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TDS Telecom outlines phased fiber rollout for Delavan, estimates April start
Summary
TDS Telecom officials outlined a phased fiber deployment in Delavan, describing construction methods, resident outreach, and an expected mid- to late-April start depending on weather. Company representatives said pricing will be competitive but final rates are not yet set.
TDS Telecom representatives presented plans to bring fiber broadband to Delavan, describing a phased construction approach, resident notification process and an estimated mid- to late-April start for initial work.
Bruce Shett, manager of business development for government and regulatory affairs at TDS, said the company selects markets like Delavan based on demographics and housing stock, and that the city fits TDS’s deployment criteria. Shett said TDS offers residential service tiers up to 8 gigabits per second and business tiers higher than that, and he highlighted three community benefits: higher speeds, reliability and what he described as "future proof" network architecture.
Shett said the company uses a digital-fiber-network (DFN) planning method that lets crews build a portion of the city (about 200–300 households), light that segment and then move onto the next area. "Once we finish one DFN, which represents about two to 300 households, we can actually light them up," Shett said.
Sean Murray, TDS manager for permitting and easement work, described permitting progress and a planned cabinet location at Harvest Point (209 S. 4th St.). Murray said one permit has already been approved and another is pending; he estimated construction would begin in April, weather permitting, and continue through the year with restoration work next spring.
On customer outreach, Shett described a multi-step notification plan including mailed letters, construction postcards, door hangers, on-site sandwich boards during active work, yard signs where appropriate, and an online portal (tdsfiber.com) where residents can check availability and find safety materials. He stressed a dedicated triage phone number to log and escalate resident concerns and to provide time-stamped follow-up.
Council members asked about price points. Shett said exact rates were not finalized but described promotional packages that could be competitive with existing providers and mentioned a commonly referenced promotional package around $49 for a 1 Gbps tier while cautioning that he did not want the council to "hold me to that." Murray and Shett said precise pricing will be announced once marketing and product decisions are finalized.
The mayor and council thanked the TDS presenters and were given contact information for follow-up questions and for residents to check service availability.
What happens next: TDS indicated it will pursue remaining permits and begin construction work as weather allows; residents should expect advance notice through mailers and door hangers when construction nears individual neighborhoods.
