For Bryan and Jennifer Barton of Franklin, Tennessee, switching internet providers wasn’t a decision they made lightly. After more than 25 years with the same national provider, they had grown accustomed to their service—but not necessarily satisfied with it.
Over time, the Bartons felt their relationship with their longtime provider had become increasingly impersonal.
“We were to a point where we were just a number, it felt like,” Bryan said. Despite decades as customers, they rarely heard from their provider beyond billing notifications and received little communication about new options, promotions, or ways to improve their service.
Then a neighbor recommended United Communications.
The timing was right. Bryan, a senior project manager at an engineering firm, and Jennifer, a special needs educator with Williamson County Schools, sometimes worked from home and had become accustomed to seeing an unwelcome message during virtual meetings: “Your connection is unstable.” Since switching to United, that issue has disappeared.
“I’ve never once had that problem since we’ve switched,” Bryan explained, as Jennifer nodded in agreement.
Bringing Better Connectivity Outside
The Bartons chose United’s 2 Gig fiber internet service and added Outdoor Wi-Fi, an especially important feature for a family that spends a lot of time outside.
Their screened-in porch becomes an extension of their home during nice weather, serving as a gathering place for entertaining friends—and watching Tennessee football, of course. Outdoor Wi-Fi has also improved the connection to their smart pool equipment, which Bryan controls from his phone.
Before the upgrade, the pool system regularly lost its connection or hesitated when responding to commands. Now, Bryan says, “It’s seamless,” with controls responding almost instantly.
That kind of reliable connectivity reflects how today’s households increasingly use internet service throughout their entire property—not just inside the house.
A Local Experience from the Start
The difference for the Bartons wasn’t limited to internet performance; they also noticed an immediate change in their customer service experience.
During installation, the United team walked through the home with the couple to determine the best locations for their indoor and outdoor equipment. When an issue arose locating the Outdoor Wi-Fi equipment, the team followed up the next morning with a solution while keeping the Bartons’ original installation date on schedule.
“They were very communicative,” Jennifer said. “There was constant connection.”
For Bryan, that responsiveness reinforced the benefit of choosing a local provider.
“Talking to somebody local means a lot,” he said. “It feels like a local family-owned operation where they care about the customers.”
Customer No. 50,000
The Bartons’ switch also came with an unexpected distinction: Bryan became United Communications’ 50,000th broadband customer, a milestone the company celebrated in June 2026. United surprised the couple with flowers and a summer-themed gift package that included a JBL speaker, Spotify gift card, beach towels, sunblock, and a cooler.
The milestone came as United continues to expand its fiber network throughout Franklin. The company is investing $22.8 million to extend multi-gig fiber service to thousands of additional homes and businesses in the community, with its current expansion expected to reach another 28,000 locations in the Franklin area.
For the Bartons, however, the best part of the milestone was how personal the experience felt.
“It’s been neat, very personal,” Jennifer said. “Everything that they gave us in the gift was something that we definitely would use as a family. It’s like they knew us right off the bat.”
When neighbors ask whether they should make the switch, Bryan and Jennifer don’t hesitate.
“Do it. Don’t wait,” Jennifer said. “Go ahead and change now. It’s been a great decision on our part. I think everyone in our family has been pleased by the new service.”
Watch our interview with Bryan and Jennifer to learn more about why they’re glad they made the switch to United. And discover more about United’s home and outdoor Wi-Fi service at United.net.