Pictured L-R: County Commissioner, Scott Johnson (District 5); John Rowland, United Communications; County Commissioner, Greg Vick (District 2); County Commissioner, Linda Yockey (District 5); Flat Creek Fire Chief, Tripp Kingree; County Commissioner, Sylvia Pinson (District 7); Bedford County Fire Chief, Mark Thomas; Assistant Fire Chief, Brian Cantrell; Bedford County IT Director, Josh Carney; County Firefighter, Jonathan Pearson; Connect Bedford Broadband Committee Co-Chair, Tracey Strassner; United Communications Chief Operating Officer, Josh Lynch; United Communications, Joseph Benderman, and Brayden Jones. Photo credit: United Communications.

FRANKLIN, Tenn., -United Communications recently joined local first responders to celebrate the completion of a free fiber service installation project at the Flat Creek Volunteer Fire Department headquarters in Flat Creek, where firefighters and support staff now have fast, reliable internet connections to assist their efforts in keeping their community safe.

United Communications, a local internet provider celebrating its 77th year serving Middle Tennessee, has provided free fiber internet installations and service to a total of ten regional fire stations as part of Project UNITE—its initiative to connect every rural, underserved home and business in its service area with broadband internet access.

“We’re grateful for all our first responders in Middle Tennessee, including those who volunteer time outside of their jobs to keep us safe,” said United’s President and CEO, William Bradford. “A firefighter’s work never stops, and they depend on resilient connections to carry out their duties.

We’re honored to support the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect ours.”

Middle Tennessee fire stations receiving free internet service through Project UNITE

Bedford County

Flat Creek Volunteer Fire Department

Unionville Volunteer Fire Department

“This is very important to Bedford County,” said Bedford County Fire Chief Mark Thomas, who also serves as a county commissioner. “Technology has become increasingly important to fire protection, with programs such as Active 911 helping provide firefighters with information about the site of a fire and the surrounding neighborhood. Knowing that one hydrant can provide only 100 gallons of water per minute while another can provide 500 can make a difference when seconds count,”

Thomas continued to say that the area served by the Flat Creek station often has “hit or miss” service when it comes to both cell phones and emergency radio frequencies—making a powerf_ul and reliable broadband connection to the fire hall even more critical.

Tracey Strassner serves as a co-chair on the Connect Bedford broadband committee, which partnered with United Communications on the Flat Creek installation project. She stressed the importance of local public-private partnerships that help expand essential services like broadband to rural communities.

“Improved connectivity has a profound impact on all aspects of quality of life for the residents of Bedford County,” explained Strassner. “We are both committed to continue working together to bring Broadband to our rural communities.”

Volunteer and rural fire departments play a crucial role in providing fire safety in Tennessee, where more than 75 percent of all fire departments are staffed entirely by volunteers. Rural fire departments must maintain a requisite number of volunteer members who are required to meet and maintain high standards of training, all without compensation.

In addition to facilitating connections with the communities they serve, broadband access helps rural fire departments recruit new volunteers, provides them with online training resources, and helps personnel stay in touch with their loved ones while on duty. The presence of broadband service at a fire station can also impact ISO ratings in ways that favorably affect homeowner’s insurance costs for local residents.

United Communications is currently expanding its fiber network in Middle Tennessee with an estimated $100 million investment in 2024, including more than $53 million in grant funding to increase connectivity across eight counties in the region, including Bedford County.

More information about United Communications and Project UNITE can be found online at united.net.