Tennessee Legislature Passes Rural Broadband Bill

The Tennessee legislature passed a bill that could make it easier for rural areas to get access to the Internet. The bill, named the Broadband Accessibility Act of 2017, was pushed by Gov. Bill Haslam as a way to help the economy in rural Tennessee.

April 12, 2017 •

The Tennessee Legislature approved passage of the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act to bring Internet service to rural areas.

The act is a signature piece of Gov. Haslam’s 2017 legislative initiatives. It is aimed at promoting expansion of broadband into unserved rural areas. Some of the provisions:

· Allows electric coops to provide broadband service separately from their electric power service.

· Also permits the electric coops to provide video/cable TV service.

· Provides $30 million in grants and $15 million in tax breaks to encourage expansion of rural broadband into areas without access.

Elizabeth Daigneau

Elizabeth Daigneau is GOVERNING's managing editor.

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Tennessee Legislature Passes Rural Broadband Bill

The Tennessee legislature passed a bill that could make it easier for rural areas to get access to the Internet. The bill, named the Broadband Accessibility Act of 2017, was pushed by Gov. Bill Haslam as a way to help the economy in rural Tennessee.