Josh Lynch (left), Chief Operating Officer of United Communications, and James Wright (right), President and CEO of Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, announced United’s broadband investment in Marshall County at the November 25, 2024, Marshall County Commission meeting.
CHAPEL HILL, Tenn. (Nov. 26, 2024)—Local fiber internet provider United Communications and Duck River Electric Membership Corporation are teaming up to expand the region’s fastest internet service to an additional 1,000 homes and businesses in Marshall County.
The $12 million investment was secured through Project UNITE, a partnership between Duck River Electric and United Communications created to bring fast, reliable internet service to Duck River Electric members in Middle Tennessee. Through Project UNITE, United Communications already serves the vast majority of Marshall County outside of Lewisburg, providing fiber internet to over 6,000 homes and businesses. This newest investment will bring high-speed fiber access to the remaining unserved areas in the central part of the county.
Investment sources include $8 million in Last Mile grant funding that was allocated to the state by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund and $4 million in private funding by United Communications.
Details of the multi-year buildout were shared yesterday with county leaders during the Marshall County Commission meeting. United Communications and Duck River Electric thanked Mayor Mike Keny and the commissioners for their partnership in securing a share of the competitive state grant awards.
“A lot of lives in Marshall County got better today by this announcement,” Marshall County Mayor Mike Keny shared. “Knowing that an additional 1,000 locations in our county will now have internet access—be they homes or businesses that lack modern broadband connection—is something we are truly excited about.”
“I congratulate the United team on receiving this grant award and applaud their efforts for continuing to be positive difference-makers in Marshall County,” the mayor added.
“The longstanding relationships between United Communications, Duck River Electric, and Marshall County have made this critical investment possible,” said William Bradford, President and CEO of United Communications. “Founded in Chapel Hill, TN over 77 years ago, we continue to have strong ties to the community, with a regional operations center still located there.”
“Building fast, reliable fiber internet connections adds to the quality of life in Marshall County. Many of our own employees live in Marshall County, so this project truly is about serving our United family and neighbors.” Bradford added.
Originally founded in Marshall County as United Telephone Company in 1947, United Communications still operates at 120 Taylor Street in Chapel Hill and remains committed to serving the region’s growing connectivity needs.
“Through collaboration, partnership, and commitment, Project UNITE continues to deliver on its mission of connecting rural communities in southern Middle Tennessee to high-speed internet,” said James Wright, President and CEO of Duck River Electric Membership Corporation (DREMC). “The Duck River Electric team is excited to be a part of these efforts to bring reliable internet to our friends, families, and neighbors in the communities that DREMC serves, including Marshall County.”
Marshall County residents are encouraged to visit United’s website and complete the interest form to receive priority notifications when fiber internet becomes available at their home or business. By signing up now, customers can avoid potential costly installation fees and be among the first to access United’s new 8 Gig fiber internet service—the fastest broadband available connection in Middle Tennessee.
Learn more about United Communications’ fiber broadband services for residential, business, and enterprise customers at United.net.
# # #
About United Communications
United Communications is a leading provider of internet and phone services to enterprise-class businesses and residential customers in Middle Tennessee. United has been nationally and regionally recognized, receiving a 2024 Gold Stevie® Award from The 22nd American Business Awards®, one of the 2024 and 2023 Best Places To Work from the Nashville Business Journal, a 2023 Top 100 Fiber-To-The-Home Leader, a 2023 Torch Award from the BBB, and a Smart Rural Community Provider℠ award.
United operates more than 3,800 route miles of fiber covering portions of Bedford, Davidson, Franklin, Giles, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Rutherford, Williamson, and Wilson counties. United Communications is a service of Middle Tennessee Electric. To learn more, please visit united.net.
About Duck River Electric
Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, an electric cooperative, was founded in 1936 by a group of community-focused citizens with the goal of providing central station electric power to rural areas that previously were unserved. Investor-owned utilities felt the population density was too sparse and would not be profitable for them to bring electricity to rural areas. However, this was the mission of electric cooperatives like DREMC, and electrification began thanks to the many who supported the cooperative movement in the 1930s and 1940s. The southern portion of Middle Tennessee, which DREMC serves, has grown substantially since DREMC’s founding. DREMC delivers safe, reliable electric service at the lowest possible cost to its members.
Media Contact
Chris Song