TDS is a multi billion dollar corporation with operations in many parts of the U.S. Their service territory here in western Colorado extends from Paonia/Somerset on the east, Crawford on the south, Cedaredge on the north and approximately Austin/Read on the west. This area was originally served by a coop telephone company that was later taken over by TDS. TDS also provides service to an area in northern Colorado.

My sources verbally state that the only reason the old pink house that served as the TDS/Qwest interface point was torn down is because the property was purchased by a local doctor. A new medical development is planned that extends from Stafford Rd. over to 3rd ave. It was verbally stated that the TDS interface was moved to a location along 3rd ave. but I can not verify for sure. The fiber tie built by DMEA between VoTec and the old interface building is still there it appears. Still, nothing in the TDS or Qwest network comes close to matching the system installed in 2006 and used by the Mescalero Apache tribe in central highly rural New Mexico. For those interested in the recent TDS fiber cut debacle and why things happened the way they did, see the local loop 101 document on the "Telco" page. Forget about the fiber SONET rings in the article. They are only effective/protective where widely separate transport paths are available and used.

As this article demonstrates, small Internet Service Providers (ISP's) have a tough time making a go of it because of the unreasonable charges they face from larger Incumbent Exchange Carriers (Telephone Companies). Your government allows this to happen which results in higher costs and many times no or poor Internet service for all of us. In addition, the IEC's continually beg for Universal Service Funds (USF funds) which only adds to the problem. I fail to understand why these companies are allowed to stay in business.

As this article shows TDS is using the legal system against the citizens of the community. It's truly a shame that this can occur in the U.S. but it is a fact that it can. Rather than be a partner in getting high speed Internet into communities, TDS has chosen to be a dictator of the people in forcing them to use services not of their choosing and at prices they do not control. If you don't mind being a slave to big business and letting someone else make your decision for you, by all means support this company. Otherwise, I would advise doing everything possible to run TDS out of business.

Speaking of Qwest, if you want to purchase satellite TV, dealers are a dime a dozen. If you want to purchase phone service east of Delta, you have but one choice. Technology would certainly allow Qwest to easily provide telephone service east of Delta but telephone companies carefully avoid competing for phone customers with each other and would much prefer to maintain a monopoly operation. The Colorado PUC, of course, underwrites this policy. What's left? See the picture to the lower right. I'm hoping that Sopris can make a go of it in light of the highly unfair pricing for Internet access they face. See "How to put a small ISP out of business" above.

TDS appears to be in bed with Dish DBS services in a major way. In many other parts of the country and world, TV is delivered via fiber cable. I would say, because of the Dish agreement, TDS plans on installing little if any fiber beyond the small amount they currently have.

Update 11-25-08. The fiber tie no longer exists to the interface building. Stay tuned for an update on this issue. -- Keep in mind that with a properly implemented public broadband network, none of the following is required or desirable. Delta schools with help from the State of Colorado has been able to extend broadband circuits from the Votec center to schools in the Northfork Valley via unused TDS fiber. DMEA not TDS is reported to have done a majority of the work. The end result has likely been an unnecessary bill to Delta County taxpayers at the expense of their own broadband needs. In fairness and because Delta schools are also in Qwest's service territory, Qwest has many of the same broadband problems as TDS has (birds of a feather).

Anybody with a telecommunications I.Q. of 3 or greater knows that the statements on recent TDS broadband advertising are just so much bull s**t. Before buying broadband services from TDS or anyone else, I would recommend carefully reviewing the fine print, any terms of service and these 10 questions.

The $19.95/mo. is, of course, a come-on. Full price is around $50.00/mo. As I read the fine print, It'll cost you $100.00 to get out of the minimum 1 year "commitment". In spite of this, there are no service guarantees or minimum data rate guarantees that I can find. They have no "naked" DSL offering and will not deliver service unless you also have basic phone service. This raises the price to around $75.00/mo. if you are currently using cellular for your phone service. A Static IP is only available on business lines and will only be delivered on a business class phone circuit. Costs, at this point, are well over $100.00/mo. for basic broadband only. As detailed on the broadband page, this same amount of money in Utah will purchase 100 Mbit symmetrical service that includes phone, data and TV. As reported, $88.00/mo. in France will buy you service that is approximately 1000 time faster.

Pictured to the right is the subscriber module installation typically used for long distance Motorola Canopy installations. The RF link is a little under 12 miles in length. Shorter lengths do not require the reflector. Max download rate to date is 6.3 Mbit. This rate was obtained from a university sponsored Linux mirror download site. Many universities are now tied to Internet2 or National Lambda Rail facilities and have extremely fast connectivity as a result. As a matter of interest, directly above but not shown in the picture is a cellular tower installation. These sites as well as TDS, receive funds from the rate payer supported Universal Service Fund as well as State support funds. It's reported that such site owners and operators typically do everything within their power to keep Internet wireless providers from using a tower site even though it's supported in part by rate payer funding. The Sopris equipment appears fully compatible with the Linux operating system which is detailed on my Linux page. As stated on their June 25, 2008 letter to residential customers, their price for "800K - 1.0 Mbs" service runs $35.00 per month. Their "3 Mbps - 5 Mbps" service runs $49.00 per month. The Sopris website can be found here.

Under Windows®, a transmission parameter called RWIN needs to be adjusted to obtain maximum transmission or transfer speeds. Telephone companies providing Internet services (ISP services) are starting to charge big bucks to set/adjust simple setting inside a customers computer. The TDS site, which is typical, is located here. Please don't fall for these schemes. I consider them Scams. It's quite easy to Google the term "RWIN" or any other setting related term that needs changing to find what you need to do. Under the latest releases of Linux. the RWIN function is dynamic and adjusted on the fly. Running the latest versions of Linux, I never had occasion, need or desire to adjust transmission values.

Please continue to next page - - Telco <--> Qwest --

• USF: Biggest Boondoggle
• Backhaul Monopoly
• Landlines Going Away
• System Power Changes
• TDS Legal Monster
• TDS Headed Downhill?
• TDS Anticompetetive
• TDS on DSLReports
• TDS CEO
• TDS Terms of Service
• FCC Sharing PDF
• TDS Questions & FAQ's
• Actiontec Broadband Providers
• TDS Actiontec Store
• TDS Service Review
• TDS Reliability?
• Ten Questions