Biden-Harris Administration Awards Nearly $6 Million to Tennessee in ‘Internet for All’ Planning Grants

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that Tennessee received its first “Internet for All” grants for deploying high-speed Internet networks and developing digital skills training programs under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative. Tennessee is receiving $5,989,952.62 in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to plan for the deployment and adoption of affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed Internet service throughout the state. Tennessee will receive $4,906,138.56 in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grants to fund various activities including:

• Development of a comprehensive Five-Year Action Plan identifying Tennessee's broadband access, affordability, equity, and adoption needs;
• Research and data collection, including initial identification of unserved locations and underserved locations;
• Publications, outreach, and communications support;
• Providing technical assistance to potential subgrantees, including through workshops and events.

Tennessee will receive $1,083,814.06in Digital Equity Act grants to fund various activities including:

• Closing the digital equity gap and the development of a Statewide Digital Equity Plan;
• Digital Literacy, Equity, and Adoption consulting;
• Community and stakeholder engagement, data collection and analysis, and report development and distribution.