Wisconsin-based TDS Telecom (see our user reviews) today announced that the company will soon launch 50 Mbps downstream and 20 upstream upstream fiber service in Monticello, Minnesota. According to the company, the service will cost customers $64.95/month when bundled with local phone service. For those who don't want to bundle, the company also offers a nice looking "Broadband Raw" tier, that includes 50 Mbps service and local access to 911 services for $49.95/month.

"The need for speed is insatiable, in Monticello and around the nation," says TDS market manager Tom Ollig. "TDS is working incredibly hard to deliver the faster speeds customers want." Of course regular Broadband Reports readers might remember the history of Monticello and will recall that TDS hasn't always been so accommodating to the consumer need for speed.

The 10,000 person town of Monticello, Minnesota wanted to build a fiber network because they weren't getting faster speeds from TDS. As we've explored countless times over the years, TDS then did what threatened regional mono/duopolists do best: they filed a lawsuit trying to stop the city from using bonds (not taxpayer dollars) to fund the project. In 2008 TDS had their case thrown out of court, and over the summer the company also lost a series of appeals. In short: Monticello locals forced an upgrade from copper to fiber.

Companies obviously don't like competing against cities who wire themselves with next-gen broadband, but the result is usually a positive one for consumers in the form of considerably lower prices than in other markets. That $49.95 price point for 50/20 Mbps service with a 911 cherry on top is one of the nicest prices we've seen, and it appears to be (TDS customers can correct us if we're wrong) uncapped.