Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development is launching a statewide assessment of broadband access and usage in Tennessee.
The survey of businesses and households began Tuesday and continues through March 15. Businesses and residents may take the online assessment at www.tn.gov/broadband.
Randy Boyd, commissioner of Economic and Community Development, said he determined the need for the study during his initial set of listening tours across the state in early 2015.
“Tennessee’s economic future is directly tied to our broadband access,” Boyd said. “We must measure who has broadband Internet access and how they are using it.”
In addition to the demand assessment, the state plans to partner with the telecommunications industry and other stakeholders to identify access gaps and evaluate options and costs to build out unserved and underserved areas of the state. The department will deliver a full report and policy recommendations derived from the assessment to Gov. Bill Haslam in June.