Broadband Access to Rural TN

Limited access to high-speed Internet has had a profound impact on rural and suburban Tennessee. New solutions are needed to improve this shortfall for Tennessee Families. Currently, The Broadband Expansion Act has been introduced into subcommittee hearings of the Tennessee State Legislature for discussion. The bill, sponsored by Representative Art Swann (R- Maryville) will be considered by the House Business and Utilities Subcommittee this week.

“We are well aware of the need for broadband in our service area,” says Greg Williams, General Manager/Exec V.P. with AEC. “We have been prevented by Tennessee state law from providing broadband access to our members, but the Broadband Expansion Act opens the door for new solutions. We support this action and we are excited about the opportunities this presents to our members and the communities we serve.”

Access to wired broadband that meets modern standards is unavailable to almost one in three Tennesseans served by an electric cooperative. This places a burden on rural communities to remain competitive and seriously impacts commerce, healthcare and education. The Broadband Expansion Act removes legal barriers that currently prevent the state’s not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperatives from providing broadband access. Electric cooperatives in Tennessee serve 71 percent of the state’s landmass, including a majority of areas that lack access to high-speed Internet. Cooperatives were created to bring electricity to rural and suburban Tennessee, an act that created opportunity for generations of Tennesseans and changed the landscape of our state. Today, these Co-ops are uniquely positioned to provide real solutions to Tennessee’s need for broadband access.