TDS Completes Fiber Network Build in Merrimac, Wisconsin

MADISON, WI — TDS Telecom’s fiber network build in Merrimac, Wis. is now complete. The network upgrades, impacting the former Merrimac Communications footprint, now connects more than 6,000 residential and business addresses to up to gigabit internet speeds, TV, and phone service.

“When we purchased Merrimac Communications we promised to bring state-of-the-art services,” says Julie Maiers, vice president of Marketing for TDS, “We have kept that promise. Customers can now enjoy some of the fastest internet speeds in the state, plus all-digital TV service, and reliable phone connections.”

Forty-six Miles of Buried Fiber

TDS finalized their purchase of Merrimac Communications in February 2018 and connected the first customers to the new fiber-optic network earlier this year. Now, the fiber build is complete and available to all addresses included as part of the project. The build included burying 46 miles of fiber and installing 14 equipment cabinets.

The vast majority of former Merrimac Communications customers have already upgraded to the new TDS Fiber service. The few remaining customers have been contacted about transitioning to TDS Fiber before Merrimac Communications services are discontinued on December 16.  

Residential Fiber up to 1 Gbps

Residential customers who order TDS Fiber can order up to 1Gig internet speed, as well as TDS TV and phone. The TV service offers a variety of features not available to Merrimac Communications customers previously. For example, the included Connected-Home DVR links all TVs together in a home giving full DVR functionality and programming access to each wireless set-top box.

Businesses within the TDS Fiber footprint can order internet access and transport connections up to 10Gig via dedicated fiber, TDS managed IP (a hosted VoIP communications solution), as well as TDS TV.

With the discontinuation of Merrimac Communication services, the local office at 327 Palisade St. will no longer be open for walk-in traffic as of December 16. The facility will remain in use by TDS for local and regional field service technicians.

In the coming weeks TDS will wrap-up the remaining connection work and continue customer installations. Residents can visit TDSFiber.com to learn more about the services offered and call 888-225-5837 to sign up for service.

TDS brings you Netflix, YouTube on your CatchTV DVR

TDS customers can now launch the Netflix and YouTube app right from their CatchTV DVR.

CatchTV customers will no longer need to change inputs when deciding to watch Netflix and YouTube. It’s now easier than ever to watch all your favorite shows and videos in one easy click.

All customers need is a Netflix or YouTube account and a high-speed internet connection. Here are three ways you can access the apps from your CatchTV DVR:

1. Press the Menu button

2. Scroll left/right in the Main Menu

3. From the Apps Folder, you will find the Netflix and YouTube apps

Simply turn on your TV, click a button on your remote and log in to Netflix or YouTube. The Apps are already up on your CatchTV DVR.

CatchTV offer
Not a CatchTV customer? For a limited time, TDS is offering new CatchTV customers free rental of the Gateway for 12 months – risk free* and at a savings of $156 in rental costs. If you love TV, you’ll love CatchTV.

With CatchTV, customers enjoy the freedom of watching their favorite shows anytime, on any TV in their home, with a powerful DVR Gateway system. CatchTV allows customers to record up to six channels at the same time. Plus, CatchTV has an enormous amount of storage space so customers can build a library of their favorite shows.

The Gateway hosts all your TDS video services, and acts as the hub of your whole-home DVR system. Small, easy-to-hide media players connect the other TVs in your home for an additional $6 a month.

To order, call 855/696-8368 for pricing details or sign up at http://hellotds.com/catch-tv.

Disclaimer CatchTV: Functionality requires a Gateway set-top-box, a media player for each additional TV, and an advanced cable modem. Promotional offer includes the rental of the Gateway for the first 12 months (normally $13/mo.) Media players for additional TVs are $6 each. Advanced cable modem costs $10 per month. $4.99 DVR Service fee applies. Standard fees apply at the end of the promotional period. Free Installation includes installation of the advanced cable modem, Gateway and up to 5 media players. In a case of non-standard wiring, installation fees may apply if determined by the technician at the time of installation. CatchTV requires customer to subscribe to qualifying Internet and TV service. CatchTV is not available in all areas. Other conditions may apply.

*After 12 months, you will be charged $13/mo. unless you call to cancel.

TDS nominated Best Internet Provider in Southern Utah

TDS is thrilled to have been nominated Best Internet Provider in Southern Utah in 2019, and we would appreciate your vote.

Voting for Best Internet Provider takes less than a minute and can be found at: www.voteBOSU.com/TDS

TDS now offers internet speed packages from 100Mbps to 600Mbps in Southern Utah. After making significant investments in our Utah network, TDS offers a variety of high-speed internet plans for all types of customers and households, catering to homes with extreme online demands with multiple users and multiple devices connected simultaneously. Customers can learn more about our plans at HelloTDS.com/600 or calling 1-855-771-3961.

For the Best of Southern Utah nearly 1,400 businesses were nominated and of those nominations, 924 companies officially made it on the ballot to compete.

Voting began Feb. 25 and will remain open until March 15 at 5 p.m. Winners will be announced May 20 both online and in a winners publication to be distributed around Southern Utah.

Businesses are listed under eight main categories and 190 subcategories and you can vote at BestofSouthernUtah.com. The main categories are:

• Eat and drink.

• Health and beauty.

• Home and garden.

• Motors.

• Professional services (TDS category)

• Schools.

• Shopping.

• Things to do.

Each category has a minimum of four qualified businesses for voters to choose. Voters are allowed to vote for one business per category, per day. Voting is free and can be done at: www.voteBOSU.com/TDS

TDS launches internet service upgrades in Texas, Colorado cable markets

Network investments in communities will keep users happy with faster internet speeds.

TDS Telecom is now offering Ultra 300 and Ultra 600 internet service in the three Texas cable markets of Fort Stockton, Alpine and Seminole (includes Denver City and Seagraves) and in the Colorado market of Cortez. Ultra 300 is now being offered in Woodland Park, Colorado. The new internet services are cutting-edge fast.

The launch of 300Mbps and 600Mbps (megabits per second) will keep active internet users happy.

Ultra 300 is perfect for households who want fast, reliable connections. It’s great for multi-player video gaming, several users, devices, and for video chatting.

Ultra 600 is super-fast and provides reliable service for households with the most extreme internet demands driven by multiple users and multiple devices connected simultaneously.  TDS customers can download movies and television shows with a 4K quality TV, surf the internet, listen to music and play video games on multiple devices all at the same time.

“TDS has made significant investments in  our cable markets in Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Utah and we will continue to make those investments to ensure we’re bringing customers the service and speed they need for today and tomorrow,” says Julie Maiers, vice president of Marketing and Product Development at TDS. “Users can game, stream, and upload concurrently, without slowdown.”

The average person in the United States has 13 network connected devices in their home, including phones, tablets, TVs, gaming consoles, household appliances and more. Live video is set to be the fastest growing segment of the internet. Thanks to higher-quality video and the growth in live broadcast of sports, bandwidth needs will continue to grow.

“Ultra 600 is great for streaming multiple HD movies in a flash,” says Maiers. “With more people using video conferencing, Skype and Facetime, Ultra 600 will provide improved video quality and is a real timesaver for TDS customers.”

Ultra 300 and Ultra 600 not only allows for faster speeds, but improved capacity for all internet customers.

TDS is delivering this new service via DOCSIS 3.0 technology over Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) and Radio Frequency over Glass (RFoG) plants. Customers can learn more about Ultra 300 and Ultra 600 at HelloTDS.com/600 or calling 1-855-771-3961.

Previously, TDS has announced 300Mbps and 600Mbps service in the six New Mexico communities of Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Eunice, Hobbs, Lovington and Ruidoso; the two Utah communities of St. George and Cedar City; its Mesquite, Nevada market and in the four Colorado markets of Arvada, Estes Park, Fort Carson and Fort Collins.

Business Customers
300Mbps and 600Mbps is also available for business customers. “When running a business, we know the importance of fast, affordable, and reliable technology,” says Maiers. “Business 600, with 30 Mbps upload, enables faster connections, which means improved workplace efficiency. Business 600 also supports higher-quality video for improved video-conferencing experiences.”

Businesses can learn more at hellotds.com/business or by calling 1-855-771-3961.

MEDIA CONTACT: Cheryl McCollum | Associate Manager – Public Relations | TDS | 608-664-2388 | cheryl.mccollum@tdstelecom.com

TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS Telecom/TDS®), a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., is the seventh largest local exchange telephone company in the U.S. and a growing force in the cable industry. TDS provides 1.2 million connections to high-speed internet, phone, and TV entertainment services in nearly 900 rural, suburban, and metropolitan communities. For residential customers, TDS deploys 1Gig internet access, IPTV service, cable TV options, and traditional wireline services. The company offers businesses advanced solutions, including: VoIP (managedIP Hosted voice), high-speed internet, fiber optics, data networking, and hosted-managed services. Visit tdstelecom.com or tdsbusiness.com.

Headquartered in Madison, Wis., TDS Telecom operates OneNeck IT Solutions LLC and BendBroadband, which is part of TDS Broadband Service LLC. Combined, the company employs more than 3,300 people.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS], a Fortune 1000® company, provides wireless; cable and wireline broadband, TV and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately six million customers nationwide through its businesses U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom, OneNeck IT Solutions, and TDS Broadband Service. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. employs more than 9,900 people. Visit tdsinc.com.

TDS begins construction of fiber-to-the-home project in Mesquite, Nevada

TDS Telecom (TDS®) has kicked off construction of a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network in Mesquite, Nevada  Construction on the network started in March and will reach at least 2,500 homes this year.

TDS is investing millions with this FTTH project. TDS contractors are now in the process of installing conduit and burying fiber lines in 21 neighborhoods.  More than 27 miles of fiber, including new transport fiber, will be installed during this project.

Depending on the number of homes, most neighborhoods can take up to six weeks.

Here’s what customers can expect with TDS’ FTTH project:

1. A few days before construction starts in your neighborhood, TDS fiber contractors will alert customers via a door hanger with start dates.

2. After work begins, contractors will run the fiber line from a TDS fiber cabinet into below ground vaults within the neighborhood. This work should take six weeks on average.

3. Once we have the technology installed and tested, we will begin marketing to residents and taking pre-orders. We will then contact customers once we are ready to start scheduling installations. At install, TDS contractors will return to connect the fiber line to homes, and set up the equipment. Speeds up to 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps/Gig) will be available.

“TDS is thrilled to offer superior internet speeds to Mesquite, said Jim Butman, TDS president and CEO. “TDS has brought fiber-optic technology to multiple communities throughout the country and our customers have found that fiber-to-the-home provides a powerful connection that is noticeably and measurably faster.”

Fiber lines can carry thousands of times more information than conventional cable technology. “Fiber is faster, more reliable and more secure,” said Butman. “With fiber, customers should not notice any slowdowns during peak times of internet usage.”

For more information about this project, go to HelloTDS.com/fiber where customers can sign up to receive updates and get more information.

Mesquite FTTH neighborhoods include: Falcon Crest, Hawk Ridge, Saint Andrews, Sunset Greens and Sierra Ridge; Coyote Willows and River Bend; Desert Rose and Calistoga Ranch; Spanish Bay, Tuscans, Fox Hollow and Portobello; Stone Haven, Cambria and Desert Ridge; Turtleback Canyon and Palm Cove; and The Masters, SpyGlass Hill and Sorrento.

TDS launches 600Mbps in 8 cable communities

Plenty of bandwidth to meet everyone’s needs is the selling point for residents in eight TDS cable communities thanks to the launch of 600Mbps in those communities.

On Friday, Dec. 15, 600Mbps was rolled out in:

Colorado
Fort Collins

New Mexico
Alamogordo,  Carlsbad, Eunice, Hobbs, Lovington and Ruidoso

Utah
Cedar City

With Ultra 600, TDS customers can download movies, television shows, music and video games at six times the speed of Ultra 100. In addition, customers will have upload speeds of 20Mbps.

“Ultra 600 is ideal for households with multiple Internet-connected devices,” says Shane West, vice president of Marketing and Product Development at TDS. Users can game, stream, and upload concurrently, without slowdown.  “It provides plenty of bandwidth to meet everyone’s needs.”

Live video is set to be the fastest growing segment of the internet. Thanks to higher-quality video and the growth in live broadcast of sports, bandwidth needs will continue to grow.

“Ultra 600 is great for streaming multiple HD movies in a flash,” said West. “In addition, video conferencing is becoming more popular. Skype and Facetime use lots of bandwidth and Ultra 600 will provide improved video quality. Ultra 600 is a real timesaver for TDS customers.”

Ultra 600 is the result of recent TDS network improvements in these communities. Not only will these improvements allow for faster speeds, but improved capacity for all Internet customers.

“We’ll continue making investments in our network to ensure we’re bringing customers the service­ and speed they need today–and tomorrow,” says West.

TDS Ultra 600 provides TDS business customers up to 600 Mbps download and up to 30 Mbps upload speed. “For businesses,” West says, “Ultra 600 enables faster connections, which means improved workplace efficiency.”  It also supports higher-quality video for improved video-conferencing experiences.

TDS Named Best Internet Provider in Southern Utah and Otero County

Thank you TDS customers.

Last month, TDS was named the Best Internet Provider in Southern Utah in 2017. This is the second year TDS has received this award. The award is voted on by the readers of The Spectrum & Daily News with offices in St. George and Cedar City.

In New Mexico on Aug. 27, TDS was named the Best Internet Provider in Otero County by the Alamogordo Daily News.  TDS has received this award for seven years in a row.

In local marketing campaigns, TDS will thank our customers for nominating us for these awards. In the Alamogordo Daily News, we stated:

“At TDS, we’re focused on making your life better by improving your Internet, TV and phone experience. Imagine how good it felt to hear you voted us Best Internet Provider in the region for the 7th year in a row. Our investment in Otero County is ongoing. We’re committed to providing you with top-notch service and innovative products at an affordable price. Thank you for believing in us.”

TDS customers are thanking us on social media too. New TDS customer John from Alamogordo said his installer “was professional, competent, and exceedingly patient as I peppered him with questions about the installation.” John said, he “couldn’t have hoped for a better installation experience.”

Coral from St. George, Utah said she’s been impressed with the number of upgrades that TDS has done in the last few years.

Thank you TDS customers! We appreciate doing business with you.

TDS purchases Southern Utah firms

TDS Broadband Service LLC, a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., and operated by TDS Telecom (TDS®), has purchased InterLinx Communications LLC and its subsidiary Tonaquint Networks LLC in Southern Utah. TDS announced its intent to purchase the companies in November 2016 and completed the sale on Jan. 31, 2017.

“Now the work begins to make this a smooth, seamless transition for customers,” states Jim Butman, Chief Operating Officer at TDS. “We have invested heavily in St. George and other parts of the southwest to greatly improve our services. Adding the strength of the InterLinx network facilities will further strengthen our overall network quality and capacity in the area.”

In December, TDS added a 300Mbps broadband service offering to the St. George community after completing an analog reclamation process to create an all-digital cable network. TDS’ experience with commercial customers will also enable it to offer new services, including TDS managedIP, a voice over the internet protocol service (VoIP), to area businesses.

InterLinx provides wholesale fiber connections to businesses, as well as to local internet service providers (ISPs) and large carrier customers. Tonaquint Networks provides residential and business services via both fiber to the premises and wireless internet technologies.

“Our group has worked hard to provide additional internet options over the past few years,” states Matt Hamlin, CEO at Tonaquint Networks. “Today, we feel strongly about TDS’ ability to maximize the network infrastructure. We are extremely confident that our customers will be well-served by TDS and its vision for the southern Utah area. The demand for higher speeds and more bandwidth is growing exponentially. TDS is prepared for this future growth with its network investments and the acquisition of both InterLinx and Tonaquint Networks.”

TDS — and its newest employees — will focus on a successful integration of the two companies. Butman added, “I’m pleased to report all of the Tonaquint Network/InterLinx employees have been offered positions and will work with TDS to support customers locally, in addition to helping us advance the network throughout Utah.”

Employees from Tonaquint Networks, InterLinx and TDS will operate out of the current InterLinx office space in St. George.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.