What Cumberland Connect does

Cumberland Connect is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (CEMC), a non-profit electric cooperative established in 1938. The company provides 100% fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) internet, voice, and streaming services to residential and business customers across five counties in northern middle Tennessee — Cheatham, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, and Sumner — operating exclusively within CEMC's electric service territory. Headquartered in Clarksville, Tennessee, the company launched broadband services on May 1, 2020, completed its initial network build in December 2024, and reached 45,000+ subscribers by March 2026.

The product portfolio centers on CCFiber Internet with symmetrical speeds from 250 Mbps ($50/month) to 3,000 Mbps ($140/month), delivered over purpose-built fiber infrastructure with no data caps, no throttling, and no residential contracts. Free GigaSpire managed Wi-Fi routers are provided as standard. Adjacent offerings include CCFiber Home Phone ($25/month), streaming guidance via a MyBundleTV partnership, BusinessPro Managed Wi-Fi for commercial customers ($25/month add-on), the Peace of Mind Package ($10/month bundling ExperienceIQ parental controls and ProtectIQ network security), Outdoor Wi-Fi coverage ($15–$35/month), and Lifeline federal assistance discounts. Customer-facing operations run through the NISC SmartHub portal, CCFiber SmartIQ and CCFiber BusinessIQ mobile apps, phone support, and physical CEMC office locations.

The business model is a recurring monthly subscription ISP with cooperative economics — pricing is positioned below typical national incumbents, with no teaser rates or hidden fees, and any surplus is reinvested into service quality rather than distributed to external shareholders. Acquisition channels leverage the existing CEMC member base, a $10 referral credit program, local sponsorships, and community workshops. The cooperative ownership structure and absence of external investors or publicly disclosed financial statements are defining governance characteristics that distinguish the company from venture-backed or publicly-traded broadband peers.

Name

Cumberland Connect

Legal name

Cumberland Connect, LLC

Website

https://cumberlandconnect.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cumberland Connect is a 100% fiber-to-the-home internet, phone, and streaming service provider serving 45,000+ residential and business subscribers across five counties in northern middle Tennessee. It operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (CEMC), a non-profit electric cooperative founded in 1938.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fiber Broadband Internet Services

NAICS

Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711)

SIC

Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813), Computer Communications Equipment (3576)

akta.pro primary industry

Fiber ISPs (FTTH/FTTP Retail Providers) (HDAIADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Broadband CPE (DSL/Cable/Fiber Gateways) (HDAFAIAA), Rural & Universal Service Fixed Broadband Providers (HDAIABAJ)

Keywords

• Fiber internet services
• Residential broadband
• Business internet
• VoIP phone service
• Rural broadband provider

Headquarters

HQ city

Clarksville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 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. Residential Internet Service: Monthly subscription revenue from fiber internet service with tiered speed options ranging from 250 Mbps to 3 Gbps. Customers choose based on household needs with no data caps or throttling.
2. Home Phone Service: Monthly subscription for fiber-based phone service with optional international calling add-ons. Available as standalone or bundled with internet.
3. Streaming Services: Referral and guidance services for streaming TV through MyBundleTV partnership, plus CCFiber TV service with channel packages and equipment.
4. Peace of Mind Package: $10/month add-on bundle combining ExperienceIQ parental controls and ProtectIQ network security, with included service visits.
5. Outdoor Wi-Fi Service: Monthly subscription for outdoor Wi-Fi coverage with three tiers: Yard ($15/mo), Acre ($35/mo), Field ($35/mo), plus one-time installation fee.
6. Business Internet Service: Customized fiber solutions for businesses starting at $70/month with options for static IP addresses and voice services.
7. BusinessPro Managed Wi-Fi: $25/month add-on for managed Wi-Fi service with dedicated networks, security, content filtering, and customer Wi-Fi portal.
8. Equipment Rental: Optional equipment including Wi-Fi extenders ($5/month) and replacement fees for non-returned equipment ranging from $100-$500.
9. Lifeline Discount Program: Federal assistance program offering $9.25/month discount for qualifying low-income households on internet or combined internet/phone service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cumberland Connect provides 100% fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband internet with symmetrical upload/download speeds up to 3 Gbps for residential and business customers in northern middle Tennessee. The core offering is supplemented by fiber-based VoIP phone service (residential and business), streaming TV guidance through a MyBundleTV partnership, managed Wi-Fi (BusinessPro) for businesses, an outdoor Wi-Fi service, and a Peace of Mind Package add-on bundling parental controls (ExperienceIQ) and network-level security (ProtectIQ). All residential plans include free installation, no data caps, no throttling, and no contracts.

Product overview

Cumberland Connect is a fiber-optic internet service provider and wholly-owned subsidiary of Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (CEMC), offering residential and business services across rural Middle Tennessee. The core product portfolio centers on CCFiber Internet (100% fiber-to-the-home with symmetrical speeds from 250 Mbps to 3,000 Mbps) supplemented by phone services (residential and business VoIP) and streaming TV recommendations via MyBundleTV partnership. Key add-on modules include the Peace of Mind Package (ExperienceIQ parental controls + ProtectIQ network security), BusinessPro Managed Wi-Fi for commercial customers, and Outdoor Wi-Fi coverage solutions. Customers manage networks via CCFiber SmartIQ App (residential) or CCFiber BusinessIQ App (business), with equipment including GigaSpire routers, GigaMesh extenders, and ONT units provided as part of service. Additional programs include Lifeline Assistance discounts, a Referral Program ($10 credits), and Seasonal Hold Plan for temporary service suspension.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BusinessPro: Managed Wi-Fi service for small businesses providing network security, content filtering, customer Wi-Fi portal, and dedicated networks (owner, staff, point-of-sale, customer).
• Peace of Mind Package
• CCFiber SmartIQ App
• CCFiber BusinessIQ App
• Outdoor Wi-Fi

Products and services

• CCFiber Internet (Residential) 100% fiber-to-the-home internet service for residential customers with symmetrical upload/download speeds. Tiered plans: 250 Mbps at $50/month, 1 GIG at $80/month, 2 GIG at $110/month, and 3 GIG at $140/month. All plans include free standard installation, free GigaSpire managed Wi-Fi router, no data caps, no contracts, no throttling, and no hidden fees. Targeted at households in northern middle Tennessee.
• CCFiber Business Internet Customized fiber-based internet service for business customers with plans starting at $70 per month. Supports static IP addresses and integration with business phone services. Targeted at local businesses in northern middle Tennessee requiring business-grade connectivity.
• CCFiber Home Phone Fiber-based residential VoIP phone service at $25/month (standalone or bundled with internet). Features include unlimited nationwide calling, voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, ability to keep existing local number, and optional international calling add-on minutes (150/300/500 minute buckets).
• CCFiber Business Phone Fiber-based digital VoIP phone solutions for businesses, providing greater efficiencies and reduced costs compared to traditional phone service. Targeted at local businesses in the service territory.
• CCFiber Streaming Services Streaming TV service that provides subscribers with recommendations and guidance for streaming platforms through the MyBundleTV partnership, plus CCFiber TV channel packages and equipment. Helps customers transition from traditional cable to streaming.
• Peace of Mind Package Premium $10/month security and parental control add-on bundle for residential subscribers. Includes ExperienceIQ (parental controls, content filtering, screen-time limits, device/app prioritization) and ProtectIQ (network-level threat detection and blocking for malicious sites, viruses, and intrusions across all connected devices), plus 6 free service visits per year.
• BusinessPro Managed Wi-Fi $25/month add-on for business internet subscribers providing managed Wi-Fi with up to 4 dedicated networks (owner, staff, point-of-sale, customer), network security, content filtering, branded customer Wi-Fi portal, and 6 free service visits per year. Targeted at local small and medium businesses requiring network segmentation and operational resilience.
• Outdoor Wi-Fi Outdoor Wi-Fi coverage service with three tiers: Yard (up to 250 ft, $15/month), Acre (up to 500 ft of 360-degree coverage, $35/month), and Field (up to 1 mile in a 120-degree beam, $35/month). A one-time $100 professional installation fee applies per device. Uses weather-resistant outdoor access points (Yard, Acre, Field models). Targeted at residential and rural-property subscribers needing extended outdoor coverage.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved 45,000+ subscribers by March 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MyBundleTVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide streaming TV recommendations and guidance. MyBundleTV offers free tools to help customers discover and compare streaming services. Cumberland Connect uses this platform to guide subscribers transitioning from traditional cable to streaming services.
• National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC)coreTechnology or IntegrationNISC operates the SmartHub customer portal and mobile app used for account management, billing, and service sign-ups. Cumberland Connect relies on this platform as the primary digital interface for customer interactions.
• ExperienceIQ / ProtectIQcoreTechnology or IntegrationParental control and network security services integrated into the CCFiber SmartIQ app. ExperienceIQ provides content filtering and time management; ProtectIQ provides intrusion detection and threat blocking at the network level.
• Calix (GigaSpire Routers)coreTechnology or IntegrationCalix manufactures the GigaSpire routers (GS2020E, GS4229E, GS4220E, GS5239E, GS2028E) and GigaMesh extenders provided to customers. These state-of-the-art routers enable managed Wi-Fi capabilities and mesh networking.
• TVA EnergyRightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Tennessee Valley Authority's EnergyRight program for smart thermostat rewards. CEMC/Cumberland Connect members can earn incentives for installing qualifying smart thermostats that help manage energy usage.
• DIRECTV / IV SupportminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partnership for customers seeking traditional TV alternatives. IV Support is an authorized DIRECTV retailer offering satellite and hybrid TV solutions similar to CCFiber TV. Recommended for customers not interested in streaming.
• Apple App Store / Google PlaycoreTechnology or IntegrationDistribution platforms for CCFiber SmartIQ and CCFiber BusinessIQ mobile applications. Apps available for download on iOS and Android devices.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Google Fiber: Google Fiber is a large national fiber ISP offering gigabit and multi-gig plans with a similar feature set (symmetrical speeds, no data caps). It is a broad incumbent comparable rather than a direct rural Tennessee competitor but competes for any fiber-addressable households in the broader region.
• AT&T Fiber: AT&T Fiber is a major incumbent ISP offering FTTH services across the U.S. and within parts of Cumberland Connect's Tennessee footprint. It competes on speed tiers and bundling at national scale, but is not specialized to the rural cooperative micro-territory Cumberland Connect dominates.
• Consolidated Communications (Now Fidium Fiber): Fidium Fiber is Consolidated Communications' rebranded fiber ISP providing symmetrical FTTH service across the rural U.S., including parts of Tennessee. It competes in adjacent rural markets with comparable pricing tiers and serves as a benchmark for incumbent-rural fiber positioning.

Emerging players

• Starlink (SpaceX): Starlink provides satellite broadband with rapidly expanding rural coverage. It is an emerging substitute rather than a direct fiber peer, but it targets the same unserved and rural Tennessee households that Cumberland Connect serves, and competes for incremental share in Cumberland Connect's less-dense service areas.

Direct peers

• North Central Telephone Cooperative (NCTC): NCTC is a rural telephone cooperative providing fiber and broadband services across north-central Tennessee and southern Kentucky. Notably, NCTC's territory in parts of Sumner County is the very area where Cumberland Connect is legally restricted from selling, making NCTC both a peer and a boundary-defining competitor.
• BrightRidge Connect: BrightRidge Connect is the fiber broadband subsidiary of BrightRidge electric cooperative serving northeast Tennessee. Like Cumberland Connect, it offers FTTH internet, phone, and managed Wi-Fi to electric cooperative members in rural Tennessee, and operates under a similar cooperative-distribution model.
• Connected Tennessee (MTE Connect): MTE Connect is the broadband arm of Middle Tennessee Electric, offering fiber internet, phone, and streaming bundles to co-op members in the greater Nashville area. It is one of the closest direct comparables as an electric-coop-spawned fiber ISP operating in middle Tennessee with similar pricing tiers and service model.
• Canopy Connect (Volunteer Energy Cooperative): Canopy Connect is Volunteer Energy Cooperative's fiber broadband subsidiary serving rural Tennessee and northern Georgia. Comparable in that it is a co-op-launched FTTH provider offering symmetrical speeds, bundles, and similar rural-suburban pricing to Cumberland Connect's footprint.
• Highland Communication Services: Highland Communication Services is the broadband arm of Highland Electric Cooperative serving a rural/suburban service area. It provides fiber internet, voice, and TV to members in a model nearly identical to Cumberland Connect's CEMC-driven structure.

Others

• Calix (BBX Technologies resold): Calix is Cumberland Connect's primary equipment vendor (GigaSpire routers, GigaMesh extenders) and a key infrastructure partner via its CommandIQ/ExperienceIQ/ProtectIQ software stack. As an enabler, Calix supplies the technology platform that powers Cumberland Connect's premium service tiers and is therefore a structurally important ecosystem peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/getccfiber
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfmQ9vkI2B2Yyi26sCz0AbQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/GetCCFiber
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cumberland-connect
• Instagraminstagram.com/getccfiber

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Cumberland Connect