April 7, 2025 — TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS®) has broken ground on a new fiber-optic infrastructure project to connect more than 1,200 rural Grant County, Wisconsin, addresses. Residents and businesses in the area, including locations in the townships of Beetown, Ellenboro, Harrison, Lancaster, North and South Lancaster, Liberty, Little Grant, Potosi, and Waterloo will gain super-fast internet speeds up to 1 Gig with some locations having access to up to 8 Gig.
“We’re excited to start this project to bring fiber connections to rural homes and businesses so customers—no matter where they live—have access to the opportunities of the digital age,” said TDS Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs Drew Petersen. “Fast connectivity is game changing because it breaks down barriers to education, healthcare, and economic growth.”
The project is being supported in part by a state grant and a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program.
TDS’ Farmer’s Telephone Company was awarded more than $1.55M by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in late 2023 to bring fiber-to-the-home connections to more than 800 Grant County addresses. TDS is investing $7.1M to complete the project and also reach approximately 400 additional addresses in the area. The extra fiber extension comes thanks to the FCC’s Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model program (E-ACAM). Designed to expand the availability of fiber internet speeds to rural areas, TDS is leveraging E-ACAM to help close the digital divide in 24 states.
“Expanding broadband into rural areas is one of our biggest areas of need in southwestern Wisconsin,” said Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), “Without adequate broadband service, many of my constituents are unable to connect to their workplace, education, and health care providers. I applaud the effort by TDS to connect more than 1,200 addresses in rural Wisconsin to our modern economy.”
“Improving internet speeds and expanding connectivity for residents in Southwest Wisconsin has been a top priority during my time in office. That’s why we were excited to support the project grant application,” said Rep. Tranel (R-Cuba City). “Thanks to this initiative, TDS will upgrade service for 1,200 addresses in Grant County—making a significant step toward enhancing connectivity and bridging the digital divide in rural Wisconsin.”
The build process includes accessing public utility easement areas to bury conduit and fiber-optic cable, as well as upgrading aerial cables. TDS services will launch to customers in phases as sections of the network are completed.
All TDS fiber internet products are symmetrical, meaning the upload and download speeds are identical. A variety of speeds will be available for residents and businesses starting at 300 Mbps and up to 1 Gig; some locations will have access to up to 8 Gig. Businesses can choose these speeds, or a dedicated connection with a service level agreement. TDS also offers a low-cost product called TDS Connect that includes 200Mbps/200Mbps for qualifying customers.
