TDS Telecom is discontinuing the email service included with its internet subscriptions, a change that will require New Glarus-area customers to either pay a third-party provider to keep their existing TDS email addresses or begin moving to another email platform.

Customers who choose Everymail will pay $3 per month or $30 per year, according to Kit Beyer, director of external affairs and communications for TDS. Everymail is an email provider powered by Open-Xchange, an email and collaboration software platform. 

“TDS is ending customer email service to focus resources on core products as many now use free or preferred email platforms,” Beyer said.

The change may be especially disruptive for customers who have used the same TDS address for years. Email addresses are often connected to online banking, medical portals, utility accounts, social media profiles, subscriptions and password-recovery systems, making a change more complicated than simply opening a new inbox.