I’m excited to share some big news from all of us here at United Communications! We have been awarded an $18 million BEAD grant to expand high-speed fiber internet across Middle Tennessee. As CFO, I have the privilege of seeing firsthand how strategic investments like this translate into real impact for the communities we serve.
With this funding, we’ll be able to connect approximately 1,800 homes and businesses, reaching nearly 4,500 residents across Maury, Rutherford, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson counties.
Reliable internet shapes how we learn, work, access healthcare, and stay connected to the people and things that matter most. That’s why this work is so important from an infrastructure standpoint and a community and economic growth perspective.
This grant is part of a much larger effort through Project UNITE, our long-term initiative to bring reliable broadband to underserved communities. With this latest award, United has now secured more than $100 million in total grant funding to help connect people across Middle Tennessee.
What the BEAD Grant is and Why it Matters
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program is a federal initiative funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Its purpose is simple: bring high-speed internet to areas that don’t have it today. Across the state of Tennessee, more than $200 million in BEAD funding will support broadband expansion.
It will allow students to complete schoolwork without relying on spotty connections, give families access to telehealth services, and help small businesses compete in a digital world and run more efficiently. It will also strengthen local communities by supporting increased economic growth.
The Bigger Picture: Project UNITE’s Growing Impact
The goal of Project UNITE is to close the digital divide by providing broadband internet to every under-connected home or business in Middle Tennessee. Every mile of fiber we build brings us closer to that goal.
To date, United has secured $114 million in grant funding to expand broadband across Middle Tennessee. Our network now spans over 6,100 miles of fiber and serves more than 125,000 homes, businesses, and community institutions.
That kind of growth doesn’t happen overnight. It takes planning, partnerships, and a clear mission. To learn more about our expansion, you can get a detailed look at the phases of our grant projects or read real-world stories of how Project UNITE changes lives in our local communities.
Answering Your Fiber Expansion Questions
At United, when we share news about grant projects, one question always comes up first: “Is my area included?”
The answer depends on how grant programs work. These programs focus on areas that currently have little or no access to high-speed internet. Government agencies use national broadband maps and coverage data to decide which locations qualify.
To see if your home or business will be included in the expansion, you can check your address or contact our local team today. Our team can confirm whether your location is part of a grant-funded build or included in our broader fiber expansion plans. If you’re not in a current grant area, that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. Even if this specific project doesn’t reach your home or business right now, it still benefits you.
These fiber investments strengthen our entire network. Every grant helps us expand our overall fiber footprint and adds more capacity across the region. Intentional expansion leads to better reliability, faster speeds, and a stronger connection for both new and existing customers. In many cases, building into one area brings fiber closer to nearby communities. That often creates new opportunities for future fiber builds that might not have been possible before.
If fiber hasn’t reached you yet, you can register your address here to receive the latest updates on our network growth in your area. Interest from the community helps us plan future builds and prioritize where we expand next.
Closing the Gap and Building on Our Local Commitment
This $18 million BEAD grant marks another important step forward for Project UNITE. It builds on years of progress and moves us closer to closing the digital divide across Middle Tennessee. More importantly, it ensures more people have access to the reliable, high-speed connectivity they deserve.
As a team, we’re proud to partner with state and federal programs that share the goal of expanding fiber internet access. We will continue expanding our network, investing in infrastructure, and working to connect more homes and businesses across the region—building our network the right way, with reliability and future growth in mind.
If you want to see what’s available in your area, check your address or register for updates with our team. We’ll keep you informed as new projects move forward. Because when more people stay connected, entire communities move ahead.
#######
Author Bio:
Kristin Jackson
CFO of United Communications
As CFO of United Communications, Kristin Jackson brings energy, innovation, and sharp financial acumen to her role. Since joining the company in 2016, Kristin has contributed to United Communications’ growth by leading financial, regulatory, IT, and HR initiatives. She has also played a key role in securing over $110 million in state and federal grants through Project UNITE. In 2021, the Nashville Business Journal named Kristin one of the top CFOs in the area. Kristin serves on the board of the United Community Foundation and the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of Rutherford Cable, a women’s professional group in Rutherford County, and a 2022 graduate of Leadership Rutherford. Kristin and her family live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where they enjoy spending time outdoors together.
######