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United Communications and DeKalb Telephone report broadband builds completed under Wilson County ARP grants
Summary
Two broadband providers reported progress and completions under Wilson County ARP and related grants, saying thousands of addresses now have fiber access and additional USDA-funded construction starts late January.
Representatives of United Communications and DeKalb Telephone Cooperative told the Wilson County Commission on Jan. 21 that county ARP grants and partner investments have expanded fixed‑fiber broadband access across the county.
United Communications reported it has invested more than $16 million in Wilson County broadband infrastructure and that Project Unite — the county‑partnered ARP project — is ahead of schedule and under budget. Company representatives said the outside plant construction is complete and that the program connects households as installations are scheduled through the end of the contract (December 2026). They said about 11,000 homes and businesses in the county are now on their fiber network and that about 2,000 of those previously lacked any internet service.
DeKalb Telephone Cooperative (DTC) reported completion of phases of the Wilson County ARP grant area, saying its project passed about 996 locations in the county and has connected roughly 350 customers so far, with ongoing installs. DTC said its broader Wilson County investment in areas previously served by other providers totals about $27 million and that a separate USDA Reconnect grant project (budgeted at $2.8 million) is scheduled to begin construction Jan. 27 and finish by July 2025.
Both providers described fixed gigabit-capable fiber offerings to customers and encouraged residents who want service to contact the companies as installs continue. DeKalb Telephone highlighted specific households that had no prior fixed broadband and said its ARP-funded work has provided service options to those residents.
Speakers thanked county leadership for the grants and called the partnerships key to expanding rural broadband access.
