MURFREESBORO, Tenn.–( BUSINESS WIRE )–Nov. 29, 2022–
The Murfreesboro Housing Authority (MHA), in partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), United Communications and SmartMark Communications, announced today that thanks to a grant from TVA’s Connected, residents can now enjoy up to three years of free Internet service. Communities program. The infrastructure has been developed over the past few months and customers will have access to the service starting this month.
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Leaders celebrate the launch of TVA’s Connecting MHA pilot at the Murfreesboro Housing Authority. (L to R) Rick Jurosky, United Communications, Meredith Ponce, SmartMark Communications, Georgia Caruthers, TVA, Juliet Shavit, SmartMark Communications, Glenn Hollandsworth, MTE, Brianna Henry, MTE, Thomas Rowe, Murfreesboro Housing Authority, Kristinic Jackson, United States and Jodie Miller, United Communications. (Image: Business Wire)
MHA received a Connected Communities grant from TVA last year to run fiber in three communities currently under revitalization efforts: Oakland Court I, Oakland Court II and Parkside. Phase I of the multiphase grant offers free internet and energy education programs designed to help residents lower their monthly bills. Later phases include the implementation of smart technology and additional energy savings opportunities in partnership with United’s parent company, Middle Tennessee Electric.
TVA’s Connected Communities initiative supports TVA’s energy system of the future and plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. TVA is investing in job creation by expanding access to technology, preparing for and opening a modern grid system to further support clean energy resources. more opportunities to connect with the community.
“MHA is honored to receive this grant from TVA and the opportunity to provide free connectivity to our residents,” said MHA CEO Thomas Rowe. “Internet access has become a necessity in our daily lives and we are excited that this program will not only help increase awareness of energy efficiency and costs, but also open up new opportunities and outlets for residents.”
“Affordable housing has many benefits for residents on limited incomes, but the cost of technology like Internet access can be prohibitive,” said Georgia Caruthers, senior program manager for TVA’s Connected Communities initiative. “By supporting the Murfreesboro Housing Authority’s efforts to help residents have a better quality of life, we help fulfill TVA’s service mission to make life better through free Wi-Fi connectivity that provides ready access to information and online services. for residents to benefit from ‘smart home-ready’ living spaces that have the potential to help reduce energy costs.”
In addition to offering free internet service, United Communications is actively contributing to the project through additional funding to enable full fiber-to-the-home deployment in all three communities.
“United Communications is honored to provide reliable, high-speed Internet to low-income residents in Middle Tennessee while supporting an important energy education program in partnership with MTE, TVA, MHA and SmartMark,” said William Bradford, president and CEO of United Communications. “This is especially meaningful because our mission is to provide critical internet connectivity to support a variety of needs, including children’s education, adult online training and education, and working from home. We are glad that we can achieve this goal together.”
SmartMark Communications is managing the project and providing the energy education and customer engagement components of the pilot.
Learn more at connecting-MHA.com.
About joining MHA
Connecting MHA is a program supported by the TVA Connected Communities grant program and provides free Internet and smart technologies along with energy education and automated savings opportunities to residents of Oakland Court I, Oakland Court II and Parkside communities in the Murfreesboro Housing Authority. Phase I provides three full years of free Internet service in exchange for participation in a quarterly energy conservation education program. This program is sponsored by United Communications, Middle Tennessee Electric, SmartMark Communications and ACE IoT.
About Murfreesboro Housing Authority
The mission of the Murfreesboro Housing Authority is to provide well-maintained decent, safe and sanitary housing for eligible families, thereby promoting the serviceability, economy, efficiency and stability of developments; and to use all available resources to maximize the social and economic opportunities of all residents. Learn more at mha-tn.org.
About TVA
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a United States corporate agency that provides electricity to business customers and local electric companies serving approximately 10 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives virtually no taxpayer funding, generating virtually all of its revenue from the sale of electricity. In addition to operating and investing revenues into the power system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and helps local electric companies, state and local governments create economic development and jobs.
About United Communications
United Communications is a leading provider of Internet, digital TV and telephone services to enterprise-class businesses and residential customers in Middle Tennessee. United Smart Rural Community Provider, known as SM, is a top “Fastest Internet Service Provider” by BroadbandNow and the winner of the 2021 Broadband Communities Cornerstone Award, which recognizes the most outstanding Fiber-to-the-Home deployments in the United States. abroad. United operates approximately 1,700 route miles of fiber covering parts of Williamson, Rutherford, Marshall, Bedford, Franklin, Wilson and Davidson counties. United Communications is a service of Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation. For more information, visit united.net.
About Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE).
Founded in 1936, MTE is the largest electric cooperative in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) region and the second largest electric cooperative in the United States, serving more than 750,000 Tennesseans through 325,000+ accounts covering approximately 2,200 square miles in 11 Middle Tennessee counties. provides service. , Cannon, Williamson, and Wilson. Municipalities served include Murfreesboro, Franklin, Brentwood, Smyrna, La Vergne, Lebanon and Mt. Juliet included. MTE employs 520 people at its seven local offices and headquarters in Murfreesboro.
United Communications, a subsidiary of MTE, is a nationally recognized broadband company with a fiber network spanning more than 1,200 route miles providing high-speed Internet and other services to parts of Williamson, Rutherford, Marshall, Bedford, Franklin and Davidson counties.
About SmartMark Communications
For more than two decades, SmartMark Communications has helped shape the customer experience by developing education and engagement strategies that drive technology adoption and lasting behavioral change. A leader in energy innovation and smart grid evolution, SmartMark works with energy companies, stakeholders and policymakers to develop and implement customer-centric programs that validate investments and drive transformation. Learn more at smartmarkglobal.com.
See source version at businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221129005211/en/
CONTACT: Media:
Meredith Ponce
SmartMark Communications
meredith@smartmarkusa.com
615-864-7841
KEYWORD: TENNESSEE UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA
Industry Keyword: Telecommunications Software Networks Continuous Internet Supply Electronic Design Automation Information Management Technology Other Building & Property Building Systems Home & Property LOCAL COMMUNICATIONS ARCHITECTURE OTHER ENERGY UTILITIES OIL/GAS PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ENERGY OTHER TECHNOLOGY
SOURCE: Murfreesboro Housing Authority
Copyright Business Wire 2022.
PUB: 29.11.2022 09:00/DISC: 29.11.2022 09:02
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