Brightspeed and Habitat for Humanity partner to support housing and expand access to reliable high-speed internet
WOOSTER, OH — April 16, 2026 — For four Wayne County families, the path to homeownership will also open the door to something essential to their daily lives: reliable, high speed internet access. Brightspeed, the nation’s third-largest fiber builder, is partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Wayne County to support the construction of four affordable homes, helping provide safe, stable housing to local families. The company is contributing $10,000 to the project and will work to connect each home to its multi-gig-speed fiber network.
As more of daily life is conducted online, access to reliable internet has become critical. Brightspeed will provide up to one year of complimentary 1 Gig fiber internet service to each Habitat home built in Wayne County this year. This partnership reflects a growing effort to ensure families don’t just have a place to live, but a stronger foundation to thrive in today’s connected world.
“We believe that every family deserves access to both a safe place to call home and reliable connectivity, which is a basic need in today’s digital world,” says Brian Littleton, local marketing manager at Brightspeed. “We're proud to help families like that of Natalie Ray of Wooster, the first to benefit from our partnership, with housing, but also with the digital tools that help them learn, work and stay connected with loved ones.”
The first homeowner, Natalie Ray of Wooster, OH, celebrated the groundbreaking of her upgraded house this month. A single mom of four working two jobs, Ray has faced ongoing housing challenges with overcrowded living conditions and limited essential resources. Ray and her children will soon enjoy a three-bedroom, two-bath residence designed to meet her family’s needs while complementing the surrounding neighborhood.
“Having a safe and stable home means everything to my family, and we had simply outgrown our old space,” says Natalie Ray, Wayne County resident. “This new house will give my kids the room they need to grow and more opportunities for our future.”
In addition to its financial contribution, Brightspeed also supported the project’s early stages by relocating a utility pole on the property, helping move construction forward.
“Partnerships like this are critical to advancing our mission. Brightspeed’s support allows us to build more than just homes. It helps us create opportunities,” says Beth Weaver, Director, Habitat for Humanity of Wayne County.
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 nearly 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.
