State announces nearly $20 million in broadband accessibility grants
The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly underscored the need for robust networking as many more people are working from home, telehealth is becoming more pervasive, and educational delivery has gone online. For more rural areas of Tennessee, that’s a significant challenge.
With that in mind, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development has announced its latest round of broadband accessibility grants that will expand service to support 31,000 unserved Tennesseans in nearly 12,700 households and businesses. The total amount awarded is $19.7 million, and the 17 recipients have committed to providing $29.8 million in matching funds to complete the projects.
The six recipients in the eastern one-half of the Volunteer State are:
- Ben Lomand Connect – $2,000,000 to serve parts of Cumberland County;
- BTC Fiber – $1,500,000 to serve parts of Bledsoe County;
- HolstonConnect LLC – $361,211 to serve the Mooresburg community in Hamblen and Hawkins Counties;
- PVECFiber and Scott County Telephone Cooperative – $1,908,811.24 to serve part of Union County;
- SVEConnect – $1,654,882 to serve the Battle Creek and South Pittsburg Mountain communities in Marion County; and
- Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative – $1,406,000 to serve parts of Fentress and Overton Counties.
Click here to read the news release.
