Senator Shane Reeves from Rutherford County sent out emails to residents and media informing them on Wednesday that Tennessee has secured over $4.8 million in funding for internet services in rural areas.
"On Monday Tennessee announced $4,812,520 million in Emergency Broadband Grants for Senate District 14. The grants benefiting Lincoln, Moore, Marshall and Bedford Counties are funded through the State’s Coronavirus Relief Fund allotment from the federal government and distributed by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD)."
Reeves said the Broadband Emergency Fund will be distributed by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
"Increasing access to broadband internet has been a priority of the General Assembly for years, but it has become even more critical in the face of this global pandemic which has forced businesses and schools to heavily rely on internet to continue operating. I am very pleased more residents in my district will have access to broadband through this grant. It will be a much-needed game changer for many families, businesses, and students. I will continue to work with Governor Lee and my colleagues in the General Assembly to ensure the state continues to allocate resources to provide broadband to all citizens in rural Tennessee."