Tennessee plans to expand broadband internet to all unserved and underserved areas of the state by 2028, using $813 million in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment BEAD Program.
On Monday, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TDECD) announced that its proposal to use these funds to improve broadband access was approved.
Despite Tennessee investing over $715 million in state and federal funds during Governor Bill Lee’s administration, about 10% of Tennesseans, mostly in rural areas, still lack access to broadband internet, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
Taylre Beaty, the broadband director for TDECD, explained that internet service providers have often prioritized urban and suburban areas, leaving rural communities behind.
The $813 million for Tennessee comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed by Congress in 2021. Although some Republicans supported the Act, Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty voted against it, even while advocating for broadband expansion.
State Senator Shane Reeves questioned why anyone would reject the funding, comparing broadband to essential services like electricity and water.
Dr. Sreedhar Upendram, a University of Tennessee professor who has researched broadband access in the state since 2017, noted that while there are enough funds to expand broadband, the process will be slow due to challenges like laying fiberoptic cables in remote areas and securing the necessary permissions.
Upendram also highlighted that affordability remains a concern. Through a program providing hotspots in East Tennessee, he found that many people with access to broadband might still struggle to afford it.
Before 2021, over 20% of Tennessee lacked high-speed internet. Now, the FCC reports that 5.3% of the state remains without access. The state will begin accepting grant applications for the $813 million under the BEAD Program in November.
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