TIPTON COUNTY, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – The days of slow, unreliable internet service in Tennessee’s rural counties is more and more a thing of the past.
Monday, Gov. Bill Lee updated the effort of installing broadbandservice to thousands of people in Tipton County. It’s part of a broaderstatewide connectivity effort through the Tennessee Broadband AccessibilityAct.
Gov. Lee said it’s a game changer, helping families witheducation, strengthening the business climate, and making rural counties competitivein the 21st century.
With its rolling farmlands and cotton fields, Tipton County, northof Memphis, offers a quieter way of life at a price, with far less access tohigh-speed internet.
But things are changing, from Atoka to Munford.
“This is an exciting day for Tipton county,” TiptonCounty Chief Executive Jeff Huffman said Monday morning.
Tipton County leaders welcomed an investment from the state and broadbandprovider Comcast to bring 2200 Tipton County homes or businesses into themodern technological age.
“What happens in rural Tennessee matters to every singleTennessean,” Gov. Lee said.
Gov. Lee said the state’s $60 million total investment forupgrading rural broadband since 2017 – including $35 million in this year’sstate budget – will make areas like Tipton County more attractive to live andlearn.
“If we want to provide distance learning to classrooms inrural counties, we’ve got to have broadband,” Gov. Lee said
Tipton County education leaders are also excited about thepotential broadband brings in attracting new businesses, and keeping currentones in operation.
“We can’t imagine this morning all the things that willdevelop because of this investment,” Dr. Karen Bowyer with Dyersburg StateCommunity College said.
Gov. Lee said Monday increasing rural broadband service will continue to be a top priority in his administration.
Watch the full announcement below or HERE.
