Commission formalizes support for broadband
The Anderson County Commission passed a resolution last week formalizing its support for a broadband accessibility grant.
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank announced to County Commissioners during the County Commission meeting Monday, Nov. 20, that Anderson County had recently applied for a grant application to increase high-speed internet accessibility in the county.
Earlier this year, Commission approved a resolution urging Tennessee legislators to pass the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act, an act Gov. Bill Haslam proposed in Jan. to the Tennessee General Assembly and later signed into law.
The Broadband Accessibility Bill provides grants and tax credits to promote deployment of high-speed Internet to previously unserved areas of Tennessee.
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development listed in a 2016 report on broadband accessibility Anderson County as ranking ninth in the top 10 counties in the state without broadband access.
“Broadband access is critical for successful business, education, health care, and agriculture,” the resolution states. “The County Legislative Body of Anderson County, Tennessee, believes the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act, approved by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Haslam in May 2017, provides necessary and reasonable steps to improve broadband access across the state.”
Commission voted 16-0 in favor of supporting the resolution.
