United Communications recently announced that several Williamson County fire stations were upgraded to its free 8 Gig fiber internet broadband service with the aim of improving fire services for residents.
Station 28 was among six stations that received the internet upgrade, said to be up to 40 times faster than the average residential broadband connection in Middle Tennessee
“The recent upgrade for Station 28 from 1 Gigabit to 8 Gigabit has yielded fantastic results,” said Lt. Fritz Haimberger of Williamson Fire-Rescue. “We now have four live-in firefighters in that station who are able to accomplish even more internet-based tasks at record speed while staying in the firehouse and not having to leave to access their work elsewhere due to lag or bandwidth issues.
“The speed, reliability, and customer service have been second to none, and these factors all add up to our firefighters’ ability to serve our neighbors.”
United Communications first partnered with Middle Tennessee Electric in 2018. Since then, the partnership has helped to supply several fire stations with necessary wifi upgrades.
The alliance, also known as Project UNITE, has gotten fiber internet to underserved areas as well as provided vital services like free broadband for fire stations across the region.
The newest wifi upgrade allows firefighters and support staff to gain access to digital tools such as real-time mapping, incident reporting and emergency communication systems, officials noted.
The stations that were recipients of this program were:
Station 18 (College Grove)
Station 17 (Bethesda Rd.)
Station 23 (Thompson’s Station)
Station 28 (Peytonsville Rd.)
“This upgrade is more than just faster internet—it’s a symbol of our commitment to the communities we serve,” said Chris Jones, President and CEO of Middle Tennessee Electric. “From day one, our partnership with United Communications has been about empowering people with the tools they need to thrive.”
United Communications COO Josh Lynch called it a full-circle moment for him and the team.
“It’s a powerful reflection of how far we’ve come—and how committed we remain to connecting every community across our region,” he said.
The internet upgrades are just one of the ways Williamson County has seen enhanced fire services over the summer months.
In June, Nolensville and its Fire & Rescue Department welcomed the town’s first ladder truck.
The addition was unveiled just as the town announced it would implement a 5-cent property tax increase on July 1. Much of that increase was earmarked for public safety, specifically for police and fire, amid continued growth, officials said.
The city grew from 6,330 to 15,437 residents between 2013-2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Williamson County, as a whole, is also growing.
Census figures show population of Tennessee’s wealthiest county grew from 247,724 in 2020 to an estimated 269,000 in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: United Communications upgrades wifi, tech at 6 Williamson fire halls