Ritter Communications wins $3.8M grant for fiber broadband in rural Tennessee

Ritter Communications announced that it has been awarded a $3.8 million grant from the Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund – American Rescue Plan (TEBF-ARP) to bring its 100% fiber-optic internet services to communities in western Shelby County.

Ritter said it will use the grant to upgrade its high-quality broadband services to residents in the Northaven, Locke, Cuba, Shelby Forest and West Union communities.

Additionally, this month Ritter noted is completing a $14 million major network upgrade in 40 communities in West Tennessee and Northeast Arkansas. This investment in its network provides fiber-rich connectivity to customers with internet speeds up to one gigabit and includes unlimited data and superior reliability and security, stated the company.

“Ritter Communications has demonstrated its commitment to bridging the digital divide in rural communities through similar grant programs,” commented Ritter Communications president and CEO Alan Morse. “We are honored to continue that work in Tennessee and to partner with these communities to bring high-quality telecom services to more people, so they can access services they need to work, learn and thrive in today’s world.”

Ritter Communications is a privately-held regional telecommunications provider headquartered in Jonesboro, Arkansas, serving more than 113 communities across four states in the U.S. Mid-South region. 

Ritter's been busy this year. In January, the BSP counted $12.8 million in Arkansas Rural Connect grants for fiber broadband network builds in Crittenden County and south Independence County.

Then in March, Ritter was awarded eight additional Arkansas Rural Connect broadband grants worth $44 million. The addition of these eight grants to previously awarded grants brought the total amount awarded to Ritter Communications to $67 million to date.

On the heels of this award, this spring the BSP subsequently announced it made a $2.6 million investment to deliver more fiber broadband throughout Arkansas, bringing its RightFiber services to the town of Newport.

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