By William Bradford, President and CEO of United Communications
For over 77 years, United Communications has proudly served as a local cornerstone of the Middle Tennessee community, delivering high-speed internet that connects neighbors and businesses across the region. Currently headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee, we earned our reputation by offering top-quality telecommunications services in suburban and rural areas where other providers often overlooked.
As President and CEO of United Communications, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished over the past seven decades, but our mission is far from complete. Every day, we’re focused on bringing fast, reliable fiber internet to the new portions of Middle Tennessee, empowering individuals, families, businesses, and communities.
With that in mind, I invite you to get to know us better as we share more about who we are and what we’re doing to shape the future of connectivity in Middle Tennessee.
The United Communications Difference
United Communications may be a leading provider of internet services today, but our roots go back to 1947. Originally founded as United Telephone Company in Chapel Hill, we’ve evolved and adapted our services to meet the needs of the communities we serve.
While a lot has changed since 1947, what hasn’t changed is our commitment to being a local company with deep ties to our community. Today, I am proud to share that United operates more than 3,800 route miles of fiber serving 100,000 homes and businesses in portions of Bedford, Davidson, Franklin, Giles, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Rutherford, Williamson, and Wilson counties—delivering speeds of up to 8 Gigs for residential customers—the fastest internet connection in Middle Tennessee.
Everything we do at United Communications revolves around providing the best internet and telecommunications experience for Middle Tennesseans. We’re dedicated to this mission, and we stay true to it by upholding three core commitments to our customers:
- Make it Personal: We build real connections with our customers—neighbors, business owners, and community members—offering tailored solutions and treating everyone like friends.
- Make it Easy: We simplify the experience with fast, local customer service, ensuring quick, hassle-free installation and support.
- Think Ahead: We anticipate future needs, investing in a world-class fiber optic network to keep our customers ahead of the curve. This also means that we proactively monitor our network to identify problems before they result in issues for our customers, leading to industry-leading reliability.
Award-Winning Local Customer Service
One of the biggest benefits of being a local internet service provider is that all of our employees live in our service area—Middle Tennessee is our home, too. Our team is actively involved in the community, serving on local Chambers of Commerce and volunteering their time and talents. We also support our first responders by providing free internet to volunteer fire departments. Plus, we proudly do business locally, helping our customers with their own business ventures.
We take immense pride in our local customer service teams, who are the heart of United Communications. They help us go above and beyond the industry-standard which is an experience that truly sets us apart. With over 1,700 Google reviews and a 4.7-star rating, here’s what one of our satisfied customers has to say:
“Excellent customer service! All of the employees are so nice and willing to help in any way they can. The internet service is fast and reliable. We’ve had service for two years now and it hasn’t ever gone out or caused us any issues.” – Jennifer Frank, United Customer
Powering Connectivity Through Project UNITE and Partnerships
United Communications has shown a relentless drive to adapt and serve the evolving needs of residents across Middle Tennessee. Recognizing the crucial role broadband plays in education, economic development, and community well-being, we launched Project UNITE in 2020. This ambitious initiative aimed to expand broadband internet services to under-connected communities across the region.
We utilize our own investments, grant funding, and community partnerships to accelerate Project UNITE’s impact. Since its inception in 2020, Project UNITE has led to substantial community impacts including:
- $250 million invested to expand high-speed internet in Middle Tennessee
- 3,800+ route miles installed to deliver fast, reliable internet service
- Over 30,000 homes and businesses connected, that have never had access to internet before
United Communications accelerates the expansion of high-speed internet in underserved areas by partnering with trusted utilities. As a service of Middle Tennessee Electric, the largest electric cooperative in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) region, and in collaboration with Duck River Electric since 2021, we’re expanding our reach to more communities.
Building Tomorrow’s Internet Today
As we look to the future, our goal is not only to maintain the pace of innovation but to accelerate it. I am personally dedicated to this mission. I’ve seen firsthand how access to high-quality internet can transform communities—sparking growth, enabling education, and building bridges to opportunities that were once out of reach.
As we continue to expand and innovate, I invite you to join us in this journey of connectivity and community development. Visit our website to explore our services, check availability in your area, and see how we’re making Middle Tennessee a better place to live, work, and connect.
Together, we can build a connected future for all.
Author Bio:
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 provider of internet, digital TV, and phone services for enterprise-class businesses and residential customers in Middle 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. William was recently recognized as one of the most influential technology leaders by Nashville Post’s In Charge List. He is the past president of the Tennessee Broadband Association and serves on the board of Williamson, Inc. William grew up in Chattanooga, TN, and graduated with honors from Wake Forest University with a degree in Mathematical Economics. He and his family live in Brentwood, Tennessee.