Telephone and Data Systems is a Fortune 500 telecommunications corporation founded in 1969 with established wireless and local wire line businesses. Through its strategic business units, U. S. Cellular and TDS Telecom, TDS provides wireless, local telephone and broadband service to customers in rural and suburban markets throughout the United States. The company employs approximately 11,500 people and serves more than 6 million wireless and local telephone customers in 36 states. TDSs business development strategy is to expand its existing operations through internal growth and acquisitions and to explore and develop other telecommunications businesses that management believes utilize TDSs expertise in customer-based telecommunications. Telephone and Data Systems maintains a location in Chicago.