How Tennessee’s early start on digital equity is benefitting the Volunteer State

Tennessee’s digital skills policies are making the state a leader as full-blown implementation of the federal Digital Equity Act begins. The state’s Digital Opportunity Plan stands out for the explicit connections it makes to existing state workforce and education priorities, which will help ensure long-term sustainability. Tennessee is home to nationally recognized nonprofit digital inclusion organizations such as The Enterprise Center in Chattanooga, and a robust community of activists who have been working on digital equity issues since long before Congress passed the Digital Equity Act in 2021. This buzz of advocacy has helped drive more formal state policies. The 2017 passage of the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act was an early indicator of state officials’ interest in promoting broadband adoption and digital skills.