By William Bradford, CEO – United Communications
The telecommunications sector has changed more in the past 75 years than many other industries. As one of the premier local internet service providers in Middle Tennessee, United Communications has been around long enough to experience every advancement in our industry since 1947.
As we celebrate our 75th anniversary this year, I want to take a moment to celebrate what makes United Communications unique as we improve connectivity across Middle Tennessee. Our anniversary is also a chance to look forward and anticipate the exciting advancements in communications technology.
“A 75-Year-Old Start-Up”
While every telecommunications company has experienced changes in the past 75 years, there are several aspects that I feel make United Communications unique.
One phrase I often say is that United Communications is “a 75-year-old start-up.” We don’t think like most companies that have been around for three-quarters of a century. Our team is constantly looking for ways to embrace new ideas, challenge the status quo, and strive to provide our customers with the best experience possible.
This mindset has enabled United Communications to experience some notable achievements in recent years. First, it’s given us the ability to rapidly expand our service area while also maintaining a commitment to excellent customer service. United also was one of the first local internet service providers to install fiber internet in Middle Tennessee. Since then, our fiber networks have expanded to reach approximately 1,700 route miles.
Another highlight for United is our ability to leverage state and federal grant opportunities to reach underserved communities. Through this funding, we are accelerating fiber expansion efforts and reinvesting back into network growth and maintenance.
An Exciting Look Ahead
United Communications is constantly assessing how to provide the best possible experience for our customers. Because of this, we are always looking for ways and new opportunities to implement industry best practices and investing in technology that ensures our reliability is top-notch. Over the next few years, we believe our efforts will enable us to deliver some of the fastest internet speeds in the country — up to 10 gigabytes on average.
One of the most exciting aspects of our work is the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity we have to support underserved communities in Middle Tennessee. We have the opportunity to expand our network and make the internet accessible to every underserved resident. Our vision is to eliminate the digital divide in Middle Tennessee.
Celebrating the People that Make United Special
While United’s growth and achievements in recent years have garnered attention from news outlets and political leaders across the state, none of it would be possible without the people who work here. Our employees are at the center of everything we want to accomplish. They care about their work. More importantly, they care about our customers.
United is comprised of people who are humble, hungry, and smart. Our people are really what make the difference — not only in our ability to move the needle in deploying broadband more quickly — but also in achieving some of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the industry.
Join the United Communications Community of Customers
While we’re extremely proud of the legacy we’ve built over the last 75 years, we’re also excited about what’s to come. We’re currently servicing thousands of internet customers, many of whom are in areas that would otherwise not have broadband access.
If you want to learn more about United Communications or find out if you have high-speed fiber access in your community, contact United Communications or visit Project UNITE today.
About the Author:
William Bradford
President and CEO of United Communications
With over 20 years of executive experience in telecommunications management, William Bradford has guided United Communications to become a leading internet service provider dedicated to eliminating the digital divide for underserved communities in Tennessee. His passion for bridging the digital divide in rural communities led to Project UNITE, an initiative to provide fast, reliable broadband service to every under-connected home or business in the Tennessee mid-state region. He is the past president of the Tennessee Broadband Association and is currently on the Board of IRIS Networks, the largest independent state-wide fiber network in Tennessee. William is from Chattanooga, TN and graduated with honors from Wake Forest University with a degree in Mathematical Economics. He and his family live in Brentwood, Tennessee.