Expanding Access to Books and Broadband: Brightspeed and Little Free Library Launch New Book-Sharing Partnership in Kingsport

Expanding Access to Books and Broadband: Brightspeed and Little Free Library Launch New Book-Sharing Partnership in Kingsport

Event marks the first of three installations in Tennessee, bringing books and broadband to underserved communities

Kingsport, TN – June 9, 2025 – Today, Brightspeed, one of the nation’s largest fiber broadband builders focused on empowering more homes and businesses with ultrafast, reliable internet, was joined by Little Free Library® (LFL), United Way of Greater Kingsport, Kingsport Mayor Paul W. Montgomery and community members in Kingsport’s Borden Village to celebrate a new book-sharing collaboration.

Kingsport marks the first installation in a larger initiative of Brightspeed-sponsored, volunteer-led book-sharing boxes across 28 underserved cities in several states. Together with Little Free Library®, Brightspeed is working to bring books to communities known as “book deserts,” where access to reading materials is limited.

“There’s nothing ‘little’ about the impact of bringing vital resources to the Kingsport community,” says Kelsie Dulaney, impact & education manager at United Way of Greater Kingsport and Little Free Library steward. “Whether its fostering imagination for young readers or promoting progress with reliable, fiber internet for families and small businesses, we’re grateful to Brightspeed and Little Free Library® for this investment in our future.”

As Brightspeed continues expanding its fiber internet footprint in the region, connecting people to education, remote work and healthcare, this partnership with Little Free Library® further underscores the company’s investment in the communities it serves. Currently, Brightspeed’s fiber network reaches more than 25,600 homes and businesses in Sullivan County, with plans to expand access to over 63,400 by the end of the buildout.

Beyond Kingsport, the book-sharing boxes will be placed through LFL’s Impact Library Program, which grants Little Free Libraries and books to places where they are needed most. Brightspeed plans to sponsor additional Little Free Libraries in Johnson City, Elizabethton, and Greeneville, TN. To become a local LFL steward and support this mission in your community, please visit this link for more information.

“At Brightspeed, we believe that real connection means more than just high-speed internet,” said Tali Kulbeda, head of local marketing and partnerships at Brightspeed. “By pairing broadband with books, we’re helping this already thriving town to build a stronger, more connected community, online and offline.”

To learn more about Brightspeed and its partnership with Little Free Library®, visit www.brightspeed.com.

About Brightspeed

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. and with assets and associated operations in 20 states, Brightspeed provides broadband and telecommunications services through a network platform capable of serving more than 7.3 million homes and businesses. Our 4,000 employees are committed to building a future where more communities benefit from a more connected life, deploying a state-of-the-art fiber network and a customer experience that makes being connected as simple as it should be. For more information, please visit www.brightspeed.com.

About Little Free Library

Little Free Library® (LFL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds community, inspires readers and expands book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-sharing boxes. There are more than 180,000 registered Little Free Libraries worldwide in all 50 states, in 121 countries and on all seven continents. Through them, over 400 million books have been shared since 2009. LFL received the 2020 World Literacy Award as well as honors from the Library of Congress, National Book Foundation and others. The organization grants Little Free Libraries full of books to underserved areas through its Impact Library and Indigenous Library programs and champions diverse books through its Read in Color initiative. To learn more, visit LittleFreeLibrary.org.