Funding will be used to provide internet access to 371 under-connected homes and businesses in two Middle Tennessee counties.
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Chapel Hill, Tenn., March 6, 2021—United Communications’ mission to connect Middle Tennessee, Project UNITE, has received another round of funding that will accelerate its growth. The internet service provider will receive $782,976 from Tennessee’s Department of Economic and Community Development. This Broadband Accessibility Grant is designed to level the playing field for rural communities across the state.
United Communications will use this funding to make internet access available to 371 homes and businesses in Bedford and Marshall counties. The provider will contribute its own investment of more than $800,000 to increase the fund’s impact and continue expanding broadband to our rural communities. United hopes to begin this project in May, with the expectation to complete it before the end of 2021.
This funding is another significant step toward providing residents with internet access that could dramatically improve their quality of life. Especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Middle Tennesseans who live in rural areas are at a substantial disadvantage when it comes to remote work, distance learning, telehealth, and other virtual resources. Opportunities such as this one help United Communications work toward diminishing that digital divide.
“This funding will greatly support our initiative to connect all of Middle Tennessee. This is great news for the 371 residences and businesses that will soon receive high-speed internet through our expanding fiber network,” said William Bradford, President and CEO of United Communications. “And we are truly appreciative of the Department of Economic and Community Development to recognize the need right here in Chapel Hill and Unionville and for their continued support of rural-focused internet service providers like United.”
Project UNITE continually works to leverage state and federal funding, its own investments, community partnerships, and other opportunities to create a more connected Middle Tennessee. The initiative has received multiple infusions of funding in the past year, including from the Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund, which was created from the federal CARES Act. This funding allowed United Communications to lead a broadband installation that made high-speed internet available to 1,761 homes in four Tennessee counties.
Since 1947, United Communications has built a reputation for quality communication services in Middle Tennessee and is one of the first companies in this region to introduce a fiber-to-the-home network. With offices in Chapel Hill and the Berry Farms community in Franklin, United Communications is a locally-operated company offering residential and business services, including internet, phone, and digital TV. Learn more about United Communications and this initiative by visiting www.projectunitetn.net.
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About United Communications
United Communications is a leading provider of internet, digital TV, and phone services to enterprise-class businesses and residential customers in Middle Tennessee. United is recognized as a top “Fastest Internet Service Provider” by BroadbandNow and operates approximately 1,200 route miles of fiber covering portions of Williamson, Rutherford, Marshall, Bedford, Franklin, and Davidson counties. United Communications is a subsidiary of Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation. To learn more, please visit united.net.