County signs $100,000 broadband‑ready grant as fiber buildout reaches 11,000 homes in eastern Bedford County

Bedford County officials reported that United Communications has built fiber service to more than 11,000 homes and completed roughly 100 miles of new high‑speed fiber in eastern parts of the county, and that the county signed a $100,000 broadband‑ready grant to fund digital‑equity projects. At the meeting, a county leader said United Communications completed 100 miles of fiber last month in and around Wartrace, Normandy and Normandy Lake and that 8G fiber Internet service had been extended to more than 11,000 homes in the county. The county also signed a $100,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development designed to support telehealth, workforce development and other digital‑equity initiatives. Planned projects cited in the grant application include telehealth expansion at the Bedford County Veterans Center and the community clinic, workforce and job‑readiness training for local residents, outreach at the UT Extension office to provide farmers with dedicated digital access, and support for the county's Connect Bedford broadband initiative. County officials said the grant will support underserved residents, including veterans and low‑income households, and that contract work on project rollout would begin with an interagency meeting to plan final distribution of funds. Speakers at the meeting thanked state leadership and local partners for funding and support; county staff said next steps include finalizing distribution plans and meeting with program partners.