TDS expanding fiber connections in rural Central Wisconsin

TDS expanding fiber connections in rural Central Wisconsin

More than 3,500 Wood County addresses will gain high-speed internet service upgrades

TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS^®) is kicking off work on a major network upgrade project to expand access to high-speed internet connections to its rural customers in Wood County. All TDS-served addresses in the county, including the areas of Arpin, Auburndale, Babcock, Hansen, Lincoln, Pittsville, Remington, Richfield, and more, will be included in the upgrade plans.

"Bringing faster internet connections to rural America is not just about the technology-it's about ensuring everyone has the same opportunity for education, healthcare, and economic growth," said TDS Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs Drew Petersen. "We look forward to connecting customers to the faster connections they've been waiting for."

Construction will kick off this year and extend until at least 2028. This year's plans call for installing nearly 400 miles of high-speed infrastructure to connect more than 3,500 addresses. This build plan, expected to start this spring in many locations, includes accessing public utility easement areas to bury conduit and fiber-optic cables, as well as upgrading aerial cables. TDS services of at least 100 Mbps and up to 8 Gigabit in some locations, will launch to customers in phases as sections of the network are completed.

The network upgrades are being supported, in part, by the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) four-year Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model program (E-ACAM) along with TDS investment. The program funds the increased costs of bringing and maintaining broadband connections to rural areas. Companies participating in E-ACAM have until December 31, 2028, to launch upgraded speeds to the required locations.

TDS is also investing its own capital to bring faster speeds to area addresses not supported by the federal program. The company is accelerating its fiber expansion plans and crossed the 1 million fiber address passings milestone in 2025. TDS recently announced it is raising its long-term fiber service goal to 2.1 million fiber service addresses.

"We remain committed to making reliable, high-quality connections affordable, as well," said Petersen. "TDS Connect, our low-cost high-speed internet product, will remain available to qualifying customers in our service footprint even after our upgrade work is complete."

TDS is leveraging E-ACAM to help close the digital divide in 22 states. Residents and businesses interested in learning more about TDS products can visit TDSFiber.com.

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