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:
» Volunteer Energy Cooperative: $1,317,488.45 serving the Spring Creek community in McMinn County
» Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative: $817,406 serving the Griffith Creek community in Marion County
» TDS Telecom: $1,490,291 serving the Vonore community in Monroe County
» BTC Communications: $701,102.16 serving the Walden Ridge community in Rhea County
» Ben Lomand Communications: $1,525,477.78 serving the Normandy community in Coffee County
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development is working with the 13 grantees who showed a "high need" for grant funding. The administration also says recipients demonstrated the ability to implement and sustain the project long term with strong community support.
"Broadband is critical to the sustained economic success of a community," said state Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe. "By expanding broadband accessibility, we are extending the runway of possibilities for new industry and development right here in Tennessee."
Meanwhile, Lee's recommended fiscal year 2020 budget proposal seeks another $20 million to continue closing an "access gap" to ensure rural Tennesseans have tools needed for growth and prosperity.
Other recipients of the latest grants are:
» Gibson Electric Membership Corporation: $588,974 serving the Gadsden community in Crockett County and part of Gibson County
» Loretto Telephone Company: $1,050,000 serving parts of Lawrence County
» Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative: $1,832,728.16 serving part of Humphreys County
» North Central Communications: $304,763 serving part of rural Sumner County
» Peoples Telephone Company: $186,494 serving part of the Danville community in Houston County
» Appalachian Electric Cooperative: $1,739,581 serving parts of Jefferson and Grainger counties
» Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative: $1,233,987.30 serving parts of Jackson, Smith, and Putnam counties
» WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative: $2,000,000 serving part of Henry County.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow on Twitter @AndySher1.