At the Bedford County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 from left: James Wright, President and CEO of Duck River Electric; Bedford County Mayor Chad Graham; Tracey Strassner, Co-Chair of Connect Bedford; William Bradford, President and CEO of United Communications; and Bedford County Commissioner Greg Vick. (United Communications)
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. (May 14, 2026)—United Communications, Middle Tennessee’s leading local fiber internet provider, today announced Bedford County has been named a new 8 Gig Certified Community—a designation recognizing Middle Tennessee communities that offer access to the region’s fastest residential internet speeds.
William Bradford, president and CEO of United Communications, and James Wright, president and CEO of Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, presented a commemorative plaque to Mayor Chad Graham and the Bedford County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday to mark the milestone and recognize the county’s continued commitment to connectivity, economic development, and digital opportunity.
“Becoming an 8 Gig Certified Community is about what that speed makes possible for a community,” said Bradford. “It means more reliable remote work and online learning, stronger support for small businesses, and the infrastructure Bedford County needs to keep growing. We’re proud to invest locally and to work alongside community leaders to expand access and create opportunity across the county.”
United’s commitment to Bedford County includes ongoing fiber expansion and community connectivity initiatives totaling more than $30 million in infrastructure projects. As part of those efforts, United is the only internet provider to serve Shelbyville and the four corners of the county, where 70% of all homes now have access to fiber internet service.
The company also provides free public Wi-Fi on the historic Shelbyville Square and to all volunteer fire departments across Bedford County. In addition, United upgraded internet service at the Boys & Girls Club of Bedford County to an 8 Gig fiber connection at no cost, helping support digital learning and enrichment programs for students.
“Partnerships like this are about expanding what’s possible for the communities we serve,” said Wright. “Reliable power and reliable connectivity go hand in hand, and we’re proud to work alongside local partners to support economic growth and opportunity in Bedford County.”
“The journey from underserved to Gig Certified did not happen overnight,” said Tracey Strassner, Co-Chair of Connect Bedford. “It happened because Bedford County leaders, residents, schools, businesses, utilities, and community partners chose to work together to build the future intentionally.”
“I’m very proud of Bedford County being recognized as an 8 Gig Certified Community and the positive impact it has on Bedford County Schools,” said Tim Harwell, Superintendent of Bedford County Schools. “More of our students will have the ability to conduct research, work on school-assigned projects, and access online curriculum support.”
Bedford County’s recognition also reflects the broader momentum from Project UNITE, United Communications’ long-term initiative that combines company investment with community partnerships and grant funding to expand reliable, affordable broadband in under-connected rural areas. Through Project UNITE, United has helped bring service to more than 125,000 homes, businesses, and institutions across Middle Tennessee, including Bedford County.
United plans to recognize additional communities through the 8 Gig Certified Community program in the months ahead as its fiber network continues to grow across Middle Tennessee.
8 Gig Premier is United Communications’ fastest residential internet plan, designed for households with heavy connectivity needs—such as gaming, remote work, content creation, and smart home devices. The plan includes a Wi-Fi 7 router and mesh system for whole-home coverage and low latency, along with built-in cybersecurity features, parental controls, and real-time threat protection.
To learn more, visit United.net or call 931-364-2227.
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About United Communications
United Communications is a leading provider of internet and phone services for residential customers, small and mid-sized businesses, and enterprise-level organizations across Middle Tennessee. United has been nationally and regionally recognized, winning the 2023 and 2024 Best Places to Work award from the Nashville Business Journal, the 2024 and 2025 Gold Stevie® Awards from the American Business Awards®, a 2025 BBC Mag Top 100 Fiber-to-the-Home Leader designation, and a 2023 Torch Award from the BBB. United was also honored by the NCTA in their 2025 Smart Rural Community Showcase Awards.
United operates more than 6,100 route miles of fiber covering portions of Bedford, Davidson, Franklin, Giles, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Rutherford, Williamson, and Wilson counties. United Communications is a service of Middle Tennessee Electric. To learn more, please visit united.net.
About Duck River Electric Membership Corporation
Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, founded in 1936, is a member-owned electric cooperative serving more than 86,000 members across 17 counties in Southern Middle Tennessee. As one of the largest electric cooperatives in Tennessee, Duck River Electric delivers safe, reliable, and affordable power while maintaining more than 6,200 miles of line across a diverse and growing service area. The cooperative invests in infrastructure and plays a key role in regional economic development, helping sustain growth across Southern Middle Tennessee.