Company: United Communications, Franklin, TN
Nomination Submitted by: Green Apple Strategy
Company Description: 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 and operates more than 3,600 route miles of fiber covering portions of Bedford, Davidson, Franklin, Marshall, Maury, Rutherford, Williamson, and Wilson counties.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year - Telecommunications - Medium
 Nomination Title: United Communications
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated organization since January 1 2022, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated organization: its history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 200 words used.
United Communications is an award-winning internet provider that was founded as United Telephone Service in 1947 to serve rural, under-connected agricultural communities in Middle Tennessee. Since its inception, United has been committed to delivering dependable connections backed by a rock-solid reputation for outstanding customer service. The company’s innovative investments helped it emerge as one of the first providers in the region to introduce a fiber-to-the-home network. In 2020, United created Project UNITE—an ongoing initiative with the mission of connecting every underserved home and business in Middle Tennessee to world-class broadband service by securing grant funding and working with strategic partners in both the public and private sectors. Those partners include Duck River Electric Membership Cooperative and Middle Tennessee Electric, a non-profit organization that ranks as the nation’s second-largest electric cooperative. Today, United operates more than 3,700 fiber route miles delivering up to 2 Gbps broadband service in an eight-county area. As of December 2023, approximately 80,000 homes and businesses in the region have access to United's internet service. This year, United Communications is celebrating its 77th anniversary as a locally operated company that has successfully competed with significantly larger providers to meet customers’ evolving connectivity needs and expectations.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2022 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 242 words used.
In 2022, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced a record $447 million investment in rural broadband infrastructure development through the Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund—a grant managed by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. From among 218 total applicants, including major telecom providers with a nationwide presence, United Communications emerged as the single largest recipient of grant funding with $53.4 million awarded to support proposed projects across eight counties in Middle Tennessee. Along with United’s own $14 million in direct investments and an additional $10 million committed by county governments, over $77 million has been dedicated to expanding internet service to 14,000 new homes and businesses. United is nationally and regionally recognized as a leading internet provider. Since the beginning of 2022, the company has been named a Top 100 Fiber-To-The-Home Leader by Broadband Communities Magazine for its efforts to lead the way in building a fiber-connected world. The Rural Broadband Association has designated United Communications as a Smart Rural Community Provider based on its commitment to driving growth and creating opportunities through broadband expansion in underserved communities. For its commitment to business integrity, United earned a 2023 Torch Award from the Better Business Bureau and was named a 2023 Best Place To Work by the Nashville Business Journal based on confidential employee surveys. Recently, United announced an $85 million investment to serve 77,000 new customers in Murfreesboro, one of the top 20 fastest-growing cities in the United States.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
A 2023 study shows that 34% of rural residents in Tennessee lack broadband coverage at recognized minimum standards set by the FCC, demonstrating a “digital divide” created by underinvestment. The adverse effects of this divide among rural populations are undeniable and well documented. Lack of access to affordable broadband service stifles economic development, educational opportunities, and career prospects. Through Project UNITE, United is making historic investments in parts of Middle Tennessee where low population density and relatively high infrastructure costs have dissuaded larger telecom providers from establishing internet service, despite their outsized resources. On average, rural fiber installation costs $34,000 per mile—requiring providers to collaborate with state and federal entities to combine private and public investments. United is committed to making every effort to drive equitable investments across its service territory. As a result, United has more than doubled the size of its fiber network over the past two years (from 1,700 to more than 3,700 route miles). Additionally, at the end of 2023, Project UNITE has brought service to over 20,000 homes and businesses that previously lacked a broadband connection—with 14,000 more locations in progress for 2024. While doing so, the company has prioritized its customer-first spirit. The Net Promoter Score (NPS) among telecom providers is 0 (on a scale of -100 to 100), while United has a current NPS of 82. This places United’s customer satisfaction rating above its competitors and nearly all current Fortune 1000 companies based on publicly available NPS data.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 34 words used.
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