Closing Tennessee’s digital divide

Co-ops are working to expand broadband access in Tennessee’s rural and suburban communities.

LEGISLATIVE ALERT

Electric co-ops are working to secure federal funding to expand broadband access in rural America. Visit our Take Action Center to get involved.

Get Involved

ACTING QUICKLY TO SERVE OUR MEMBERS

Less than one year after Tennessee law changed to allow co-ops to provide retail broadband service, many co-ops are already connecting members, and others are announcing projects.

Electric Co-op	Location	Project	Learn More
Gibson Electric Membership Corporation	Trenton, TN	Co-op led	join.gibsonconnect.com
Holston Electric Cooperative	Rogersville, TN	Co-op led	holstonelectric.com
Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative	South Pittsburg, TN	Co-op led	sveconnect.com
Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation	Lafayette, TN	Co-op led	tcemc.org
Volunteer Energy Cooperative	Decatur, TN	Partnership	vec-twinlakes.com

$1 billion

The massive cost of expanding broadband to Tennessee co-op members
Funding remains the greatest barrier preventing co-ops from reaching unserved areas

A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY

Recent state grants are leveraging huge amounts of private funding to expand broadband access.

$2.7 MILLION

IN STATE GRANT MONEY

WILL CREATE

$98 MILLION

IN PRIVATE CO-OP INVESTMENT

NO WINNERS OR LOSERS

Tennessee state law includes an area coverage provision for co-ops. This means that co-ops that launch retail broadband projects, even small pilots, must eventually serve their entire service areas.

A SIGNIFICANT FOOTPRINT