NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Monday announced $14.8 million in broadband accessibility grants to 13 grantees to help expand broadband service to more than 8,300 households and businesses in 17 rural counties across the state.
Some $6 million of that is designated for rural cooperatives and other small service providers operating in communities in five Southeast and Middle Tennessee counties.
“I am pleased to announce that we are getting our rural areas up to speed and expanding broadband in the areas that need it most,” Lee said in a news release. “I am committed to ensuring connectivity in every corner of our state as broadband impacts our goals for health care, education, economic development and beyond.”
Nearly one in four rural Tennesseans lacks access to broadband, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
Area providers receiving grants are: