Bend, Ore. – TDS Telecom President and CEO Ken Dixon is now directly addressing billing increases applied to certain “Price for Life” internet plans, after weeks of customer complaints and a multi-week investigation by the Prineville Review.
On February 24th, customers received an email from Dixon apologizing for what the company described as a billing system error. The message was shared by multiple readers with the Prineville Review.
“We’re reaching out to apologize for an error that appeared on your recent bill. A small group of customers enrolled in specific price promotions, including Price for Life, were incorrectly charged up to $7 more on their last statement due to a billing system error. We sincerely regret this mistake and are taking immediate actions to resolve the issue,” stated Dixon.
The email continues:
“On your next statement, you will automatically receive credit for the overcharged amount. No action is required on your part. We assure you that your price promotion remains in place and billing will be accurate moving forward.”
Customers were also directed to contact TDS billing support through online chat or by phone if they had questions about their statements.
Dixon, who became President and CEO of TDS Telecom in June 2025, assumed leadership of the company after serving in executive roles within the broader TDS organization.
The message largely echoes what TDS’ Manager of Communications Mark Schaaf told the Prineville Review last week after we formally requested comment regarding reported increases on plans marketed as lifetime pricing. Numerous Central Oregon customers previously reported having to contact customer service to dispute the increases, with some saying corrections were only made after escalation to retention departments.
TDS characterized the issue as affecting only a “small group” of customers. However, the Prineville Review received complaints from multiple communities across Central Oregon, with several readers reporting that they only discovered the increase after carefully reviewing their monthly statements or following our previous reporting.
The company has not yet responded to follow-up questions from the Prineville Review regarding TDS’ claim that customers were told on Feb 3rd about the issue and would be receiving refunds.
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Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject matter expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
