Federal Boost for Tennessee Broadband Accessibility

In 2016, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development published research performed by Strategic Networks Group and NEO Connect aimed at answering four basic questions: 1) What is the technical definition of broadband? 2) How many Tennesseans do not have access to broadband? 3) What is the cost of bringing broadband to Tennesseans that do not have it? 4) What are best practices and lessons learned for promulgating broadband from around the country? In response to the research, then-Governor Bill Haslam (R-TN) proposed and eventually signed the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act in 2017. In the wake of the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act, the Department of Economic and Community Development created the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Grant program, designed to offset the capital expenses in the deployment of broadband in unserved areas. The goal of the program is to facilitate broadband access to all Tennesseans while promoting practices that increase deployment and encourage adoption. Funds will be targeted to areas that are unlikely to receive broadband service without grant funding.