Ben Lomand Connect - Cumberland County

The Sunset Ridge community, located in a rural area of Cumberland County, previously lacked broadband service. Despite multiple requests from residents, it wasn’t financially feasible for the local provider, Ben Lomand Connect, to extend service to the community. In 2018, however, the company was awarded a state Broadband Accessibility grant. Ben Lomand Connect dedicated additional funding to build the remaining middle-mile areas that were ineligible for the grant.

After construction was completed, the company promoted broadband adoption through a door-to-door campaign and digital literacy events. With 82% of the serviced homes installing broadband, this project has one of the highest uptake rates in the history of the Broadband Accessibility grant program. The Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Grant funded 25 locations in the Sunset Ridge community, benefitting 259 homes that received access to high-speed broadband from the overall project buildout.

Funding Sources