What Ben Lomand Connect does

Ben Lomand Connect, legally Ben Lomand Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc., is a member-owned rural telecommunications cooperative founded October 1, 1954, and headquartered in McMinnville, Tennessee. It provides fiber-to-the-home broadband internet (up to 1,000 Mbps asymmetric and symmetric tiers with documented actual average speeds of approximately 817-819 Mbps download), BLTV digital television delivered over IPTV, local and long-distance voice services, and supplemental offerings including home security monitoring via Arlo, medical alert systems, the Ben Lomand Home app with ProtectIQ and ExperienceIQ features, and business services spanning managed IT, hosted PBX, and dedicated business internet and phone. The cooperative has deployed over 7,800 miles of fiber across seven middle Tennessee counties (Warren, White, Coffee, Grundy, Van Buren, Cumberland, and parts of Franklin and Moore), serving more than 33,000 broadband connections and 20,000 phone lines as of 2024.

The underlying technology is a Calix-based GPON/FTTH optical network with ONT customer premises equipment, IPTV prioritization for video streams, and a Calix 716 GEI ONT-compatible 8-hour or stackable 24-hour backup battery option for home phone continuity during outages. Revenue is generated primarily through recurring monthly subscriptions to internet, TV, voice, and security bundles, supplemented by one-time hardware sales/leases and a $10 cooperative membership fee. Bundled packaging discounts drive attach across services, while the cooperative's six physical offices and SmartHub self-service portal support a sales-led but community-anchored go-to-market model targeted at both residential households and small-to-medium businesses in its rural service territory.

Customer segments split between residential (primary) and SMB, with no disclosed enterprise anchors. The cooperative is led by GM/CEO Greg Smartt (appointed February 2021, seventh CEO in company history, previously Broadband Operations Manager and a 37-year company veteran), CFO Jared Sain, and Director of Operations Chad Dees, with an elected member Board of Directors providing governance. The company holds Eligible Telecommunications Carrier designation from the FCC, is a member of NTCA and the Tennessee Broadband Association (where Smartt served as 2023/2024 President), and has secured approximately $38.7 million in cumulative federal and state grant funding across 2022 ($24M) and May 2024 ($14.68M ARPA Middle Mile Grant) to expand fiber infrastructure into underserved Franklin and Moore counties.

Name

Ben Lomand Connect

Legal name

Ben Lomand Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc.

Website

https://benlomandconnect.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ben Lomand Connect is a member-owned rural Tennessee telecommunications cooperative, founded 1954, providing fiber-to-the-home broadband (up to 1,000 Mbps), digital TV, voice, and security services to over 33,000 residential and business customers across seven middle Tennessee counties via 7,800+ miles of fiber infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mcminnville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Internet Service Subscriptions: Monthly subscription fees for fiber optic broadband internet service at various speed tiers. One-time $10 membership fee required to initiate new service for Cooperative customers.
2. Telephone Service: Monthly subscription fees for local and long-distance telephone service. Touch-tone residential service ranges from $22.00 to $19.70 per month per line excluding taxes and fees.
3. Digital TV (BLTV): Monthly subscription for digital television service with various channel tiers including Variety, HD, and Expanded tiers.
4. Security Services: Home security and monitoring services, including Arlo cameras, Ben Lomand Security, and Secure Everywhere mobile medical security service.
5. Managed IT Services: IT management services for business customers including network management, security, and technical support.
6. Hosted Phone System: Business phone system services including hosted PBX solutions for enterprise communication needs.
7. Hardware Sales and Leasing: Sale or lease of modems and backup batteries for home phone service during power outages. Modems available for lease, or customers may provide their own.
8. Bundle Plans: Discounted packages combining internet, phone, TV, and security services for residential customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Ben Lomand Connect is a rural telephone cooperative that delivers fiber optic broadband (up to 1000 Mbps), digital television (BLTV IPTV), local and long-distance voice services, home security/medical alert monitoring, and business Managed IT and Hosted Phone System services to residential and business customers across middle Tennessee. Services are sold individually or as discounted bundles, and subscribers also become cooperative members who govern the company through annual meetings.

Product overview

Ben Lomand Connect is a telecommunications cooperative offering a bundled portfolio of connectivity and security services to residential and business customers in rural Tennessee. The core offerings center on Fiber and Broadband Internet (up to 1000 Mbps fiber-to-the-home), BLTV Digital TV (with multiple channel tiers), and Voice Services (local/long distance). These are supplemented by security and monitoring add-ons including Home Security (via Arlo), Medical Alert, and the Ben Lomand Home app with ProtectIQ and ExperienceIQ features. Business services include Managed IT, Hosted Phone System (VoIP), and dedicated Business Internet/Phone. Services can be purchased individually or combined through Bundle Plans for cost savings. The company also operates community TV (BLTV Channel 6) broadcasting local school and sports content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fiber and Broadband Internet High-speed fiber optic and broadband internet connectivity services for residential and business customers, with Fiber-to-the-Home technology offering speeds up to 1000 Mbps and documented average actual speeds of approximately 817-819 Mbps download.
• BLTV Digital TV Digital television service delivered over the Ben Lomand fiber broadband connection using IPTV technology, with multiple channel tiers (Variety, HD, Expanded) and streaming traffic prioritized over best-effort internet.
• Voice Services Local and long-distance telephone services with calling features and voicemail, including single-party touch-tone residential and business service options.
• Home Security & Monitoring 24/7 residential security monitoring service using Arlo cameras and related equipment to keep household assets safe and protected.
• Medical Alert System Mobile medical security service (Secure Everywhere) providing emergency response and monitoring for residential subscribers.
• Bundle Plans Combined residential service packages allowing customers to bundle internet, TV, voice, and security services for cost savings.
• Managed IT Services IT management and support services for business customers, including network management, security, and technology consulting.
• Business Internet Services High-speed internet connectivity solutions tailored for business customers with varying speed and reliability requirements.
• Business Phone Services Telephone services designed for business customers, including traditional phone lines and advanced communication features.
• Hosted Phone System Cloud-based VoIP / hosted PBX phone system for businesses, providing scalable voice communication solutions without on-premise equipment.
• Business Security & Monitoring Commercial security and monitoring solutions for business properties and facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1000 Mbps fiber internet with actual average speeds of 817-819 Mbps
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• First National Bank of Middle TennesseeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Co-sponsorship of the annual Freedom Fest Fourth of July fireworks celebration in Warren County. Partnership began in 2024 to continue a 35+ year tradition. FNB provides funding and organization while BLC provides free Wi-Fi at the event.
• NTCA - The Rural Broadband AssociationcoreOthers · 1 January 2024BLC is a member of NTCA, a trade association for rural broadband companies. Through this membership, BLC participates in FRS programs and advocates for rural connectivity at the national level.
• Citizens Tri-County BankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership for annual canned food drive collections. Bank allows food collection donations at their Spencer, Tennessee location. Bank employees also contribute to the donations.
• Foundation for Rural Service (FRS)coreOthersFRS is the philanthropic arm of NTCA - The Rural Broadband Association. BLC participates in FRS Youth Tour program sending students to Washington D.C., awards scholarships to rural students, and provides community grants. FRS has awarded over $2 million in scholarships since 1994.
• Tennessee Broadband Association (TNBA)coreOthersBLC GM/CEO Greg Smartt served as TNBA President 2023/2024. TNBA comprises independent and cooperatively owned companies providing broadband to nearly 30% of Tennessee. Member companies have invested over $400 million in rural fiber networks.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• North Central Communications: Tennessee cooperative providing fiber broadband, telephone, and managed IT services to rural middle Tennessee. Overlapping service territory, cooperative structure, and product portfolio make it a closely comparable peer.
• Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative: Another Tennessee-based rural telephone cooperative offering fiber broadband, voice, and TV services to residential and business customers. Operates with a similar cooperative governance structure and rural fiber deployment model in adjacent Tennessee counties.
• Highland Communications: Rural cooperative/independent telco providing broadband and telephone services in the Upper Cumberland region. Directly comparable product mix and geographic positioning relative to Ben Lomand Connect.
• DTC Communications (DeKalb Telephone Cooperative): Tennessee rural telephone cooperative providing fiber-to-the-home internet, voice, and digital TV. Directly comparable cooperative model, FTTH technology stack, and member-owned rural broadband service profile.
• UBTA United Communications: Rural Tennessee telephone cooperative offering fiber internet, voice, and TV to underserved communities. Comparable cooperative structure, rural FTTH strategy, and customer base in adjacent Tennessee counties.

Broad incumbents

• Spectrum (Charter Communications): Major cable broadband provider expanding into Tennessee markets; an indirect competitor for rural-edge customers with bundle-based internet/TV/voice offerings. Less rural Tennessee overlap but a relevant benchmark for product mix.
• Frontier Communications: Large incumbent fiber/copper broadband provider with extensive rural footprint across many states including Tennessee. Offers similar product suite at significantly greater scale; overlaps with BLC in some service zones.
• TDS Telecom: Established incumbent telecom with a significant rural fiber footprint across multiple U.S. states. TDS offers comparable fiber broadband, TV, and voice services to small/rural markets at much greater scale and geographic breadth than BLC.
• Brightspeed: Recently formed regional fiber broadband operator targeting rural and mid-sized markets in the Southeast and Midwest. Competes with BLC for fiber customers and federal grant dollars in overlapping geographies.
• AT&T: Tier-1 incumbent carrier with fiber and fixed wireless broadband presence in Tennessee. Indirectly competes with BLC in adjacent urban areas while BLC holds the rural incumbent position; relevant for benchmarking scale and federal program participation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BLConnect
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQnHsBUzFudOdD5NK0IsUTQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/BenLomandConnect
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ben-lomand-connect
• Instagraminstagram.com/benlomandconnect

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ben Lomand Connect