Tennessee is spending $45 million to expand broadband internet. But is it enough?

Tennessee's Broadband Accessibility Act funnels $45 million to communities across the state that don't have broadband access. In addition to passing the accessibility act in 2017, the Tennessee legislature in 2018 loosened regulations to allow internet providers to partner with public utilities. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development received 66 applications in 2017 for the accessibility act's first round of funding. Each year for three years, $10 million in grants and $5 million in tax credits are available to private businesses. But telecommunication companies and rural Tennesseans are wondering if these measures are enough to close the rural and urban internet divide.