Huntsville may be growing by the day, but even with all that change, it still feels like a tight-knit community. The more time I spend here, the more I learn how much people care about one another.
That matters to me. I spent years working inside large national telecom companies before joining United. I experienced firsthand how the big corporate model operates. National providers tend to treat growing cities like dots on a spreadsheet. They drop off equipment, route your phone calls to an out-of-state call center, and move on to the next market.
At United, we do things differently. Expanding to North Alabama isn’t a quick land grab for us; we are building our network south because we genuinely care about the people, the neighborhoods, and the partners who make this region special.
Last month, we celebrated our official ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. While that event marked our formal arrival in the area, I wanted to take some time in this blog to unpack what our commitment to North Alabama actually looks like—and share why our team is so excited to put down roots in Rocket City as we build what’s next, together.
Why is United Communications Expanding to Huntsville?
Huntsville and the surrounding communities have many of the same qualities we’ve seen in the Middle Tennessee communities we know so well. Towns like Madison and Decatur are also growing, building new neighborhoods and businesses and attracting people who expect reliable technology as part of their everyday lives.
Many of the homebuilders, commercial developers, and property managers we work with in Tennessee also build across North Alabama. They told us directly that they want their Alabama residents to have access to the same reliable fiber network and personal support our Tennessee customers currently enjoy.
Fast, high-capacity internet is no longer a luxury amenity; it’s an essential utility. Whether you are building a new subdivision, managing a multi-family property, or running a business from your home office, reliable connectivity is a requirement.
United has been just up the road for generations, and Huntsville feels a lot like the communities we have spent nearly 80 years serving. That familiarity gives us an opportunity to bring the same level of service and support to North Alabama.
3 Commitments We’ve Made to Our North Alabama Neighbors
At United, we always strive to be an internet company that puts our customers first. Here are three specific ways we hope to fulfill that commitment to customers in Northern Alabama:
- World-Class Network Performance with Genuine Local Support
People often assume they have to choose between advanced technology from a giant national company or friendly service from a small local business. At United, you get both.
United delivers a world-class network backed by multi-gig fiber speeds and advanced Wi-Fi capabilities. Our infrastructure delivers high-performance speeds that handle heavy streaming, remote work, and smart home devices simultaneously.
What truly sets us apart, however, is our commitment to a great customer experience. Our team consists of local people who genuinely care. While big national telecom companies are notorious for low customer satisfaction, United maintains a 4.8-star online rating and industry-leading Net Promoter Score of 87, surpassing national brands known for outstanding service, including Apple, Chick-fil-A, and Costco. A Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a guage companies use to measure customer loyalty and satisfaction.
- Deep Roots and Long-Term Trust
We formally joined the area business community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. Meeting with local civic leaders, business owners, and neighbors confirmed what we already suspected—Huntsville has massive energy, but its heart is built on local connection.
United was founded in 1947, giving us eight decades of experience in what it means to build and invest for the long term. We’ve learned that staying power is about more than simply being around. It’s about building a network people can rely on, being a company people can count on, and investing in communities in ways that create value for generations.
We are not entering Huntsville to make a quick splash; we’re here for the long haul and are already planning the next several decades. Over the next three to five years, you will see us build strong partnerships, steadily expand our fiber footprint, and invest directly in North Alabama’s economic success.
- A Personalized Approach to Connectivity
In my role as Communities Manager, I work directly with builders, developers, HOAs, property managers, and city leaders. We do not force a one-size-fits-all plan onto a new subdivision. We sit down with stakeholders, listen to what their specific layout requires, and build a customized fiber plan that fits the community.
For me, that personal approach is the biggest difference. We’re not just delivering internet signals; we’re building real relationships. We know the importance of showing up, answering questions, and following through.
Our Next Chapter in North Alabama
Our Huntsville expansion is already underway, and we’ll continue sharing updates about new service areas and projects as they become available. We’re excited to become part of the North Alabama community, build partnerships that last, and bring 80 years of experience to a region that has so much ahead of it.
Interested in bringing United fiber to your Huntsville-area community? Connect with our Community Solutions team to learn more about availability and partnership opportunities.
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Author Bio:
Ray Baker
Communities Manager
Ray Baker is the Communities Manager at United Communications, where he leads the team that builds relationships with developers, property owners, property managers, and other community partners across Middle Tennessee and North Alabama. With 15 years of relationship management experience across the nonprofit and telecommunications industries, Ray brings a people-first approach to connecting communities with reliable, high-performance fiber internet. He earned his MBA from Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee. Ray joined United because of the company’s genuine commitment to its customers and the communities it serves. He enjoys building partnerships that help bring world-class connectivity to new and existing single-family and multifamily communities.