Lee, Rolfe announce $3.4 million in broadband grants for U.C.

April 3, 2020

$19.7 million will fund 17 grants serving 31,000 Tennesseans across 21 counties
TNECD has awarded over $44 million in broadband grants since 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe today announced $19.7 million in broadband accessibility grants that will expand service to support 31,000 unserved Tennesseans in nearly 12,700 households and businesses. Ben Lomand Connect and Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative will receive $3.4 million to serve customers in parts of Overton, Fentress and Cumberland counties.

“One of my top priorities is ensuring the success of rural Tennessee. With the assistance of these grants, communities across 21 counties will now have access to broadband that will aid in that success,” Lee said. “I applaud the efforts of these 17 broadband providers as they play a fundamental role in our efforts to boost rural communities throughout Tennessee.”

The state continues to focus on expanding broadband access in rural areas. According to the FCC’s 2019 Broadband Deployment Report, nearly one in four rural Tennesseans lack access to broadband. In response, Gov. Lee has included $25 million in his fiscal year 2021 recommended budget to continue the grant program.

Tennessee’s broadband program has been recognized nationally for its efforts to expand broadband connectivity, most recently in a report by The Pew Charitable Trusts on “How States are Expanding Broadband Access.” The report highlights Tennessee’s investment in broadband infrastructure with a dedicated grant program and efforts to address adoption and digital literacy.

“With the leadership of Gov. Lee and support of the General Assembly, we are able to position rural Tennessee to compete on a level playing field,” Rolfe said. “Since 2018, funds have been awarded to connect 34,000 Tennesseans to broadband, and we are proud that this round of funding will nearly double that amount.”

The 17 grant recipients demonstrated a high need for grant funding as well as the ability to implement and sustain the projects long-term with strong community support.

Grantees will provide $29.8 million in matching funds to complete the projects for a combined investment of $49.5 million across the state in this third year of the program. Infrastructure should be built out with customers able to sign up for service within two years of receiving the grant funds.

This round’s grant recipients include:

Ben Lomand Connect: $2,000,000 serving parts of Cumberland County
BTC Fiber: $1,500,000 serving parts of Bledsoe County
Charter Communications (Spectrum):$140,433 serving parts of Henderson County
Comcast: $568,509.64 serving parts of Cheatham and Dickson counties
Fayetteville Public Utilities: $1,750,000 serving parts of Lincoln County
Forked Deer Electric Cooperative: $719,921 serving parts of Haywood and Lauderdale counties
Gibson Electric Membership Corporation: $703,518 serving parts of Obion County
HolstonConnect, LLC: $361,211 serving the Mooresburg community in Hamblen and Hawkins counties
Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative: $593,166 serving parts of south Perry County
PVECFiber and Scott County Telephone Cooperative: $1,908,811.24 serving part of Union County
SVEConnect: $1,654,882 serving the Battle Creek and South Pittsburg Mountain communities in Marion County
Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Cooperative: $1,768,686 serving parts near the Brownsville community in Haywood County
TEC: $826,677.45 serving parts of the Buena Vista and McLemoresville communities in Carroll County
Tri-County Fiber Communications, LLC: $501,811 serving parts of Trousdale County
Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative: $1,406,000 serving parts of Fentress and Overton counties
United Communications: $1,331,504.80 serving the Eagleville community in rural Rutherford and Williamson counties
West Kentucky and Tennessee Telecommunications Cooperative: $2,000,000 serving parts of Weakley County