When Elliott Franklin and his family moved to Williamson County in 2018, they quickly fell in love with Middle Tennessee. Before long, they decided to purchase a small farm in Columbia with the hope of eventually building on the land. In the spring of 2020, they closed on the property and began looking for ways to make it a gathering place for family and friends.
One of their first projects was what Elliott and his family affectionately call the “Party Barn,” a space designed for dances, karaoke nights, and family get-togethers. But as Elliott soon discovered, enjoying time on the farm came with challenges. With virtually no cell service and no reliable internet, working remotely or even streaming movies together as a family was nearly impossible.
Why Fiber Made the Difference
Before United reached the area, Elliott relied on satellite internet. While it worked on occasion, service interruptions and high latency made video calls and remote work frustrating. “I couldn’t even take a Zoom call with my camera on,” Elliott recalled. “Audio was the only option, and that made it difficult to work out there.”
Meanwhile, Elliott learned about United Communications through his deep involvement in the Middle Tennessee community. “I try to stay super involved with local nonprofits, and I learned about the state grant United received to expand internet in rural areas,” he explained.
He also serves on the board of the Middle Tennessee Information Systems Security Association, where he connected with United’s security manager. “It’s always a small world. I’d heard about United through a number of different ways.”
A Smooth Installation Experience
When United announced fiber was available at his farm, Elliott signed up right away for a 300 Mbps package. The difference was immediate. “It’s flawless,” he said. “I’ve been able to work remotely with video calls while my kids stream shows—something we couldn’t do before. The consistency has been impressive.”
As an “ethical hacker” with more than two decades of experience as a cybersecurity professional, Elliott is familiar with how complicated technology rollouts can be. Watch the video to hear Elliott share how his passion for cybersecurity and helping others led him to a career in cybersecurity. He was particularly impressed with United’s installation process. Multiple visits from contractors were required to bring fiber to the property, but scheduling and communication were clear every step of the way. “Everyone was professional, prompt, and on time,” he noted. “Everything went exactly according to plan.”
A Valuable Service for Rural Communities
Elliott’s experience on the farm has given him a new perspective on the importance of rural broadband. “It’s impressive to have better internet at our farm than what’s available in town,” he said. “Reliable connectivity has become as essential as power or water, and United is providing that for rural areas that often don’t have other options.”
For the Franklin family, United has transformed their farm from a getaway without service into a place where they can truly stay connected—whether for work, school, or time together as a family.
Want the same reliable connection that transformed Elliott’s farm into a fully connected family hub? Check availability and explore United’s fiber internet options in your area today.