Tennessee Broadband Accelerate Program

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, and Heartland Forward worked on a new planning and capacity-building program to help Tennessee communities leverage historic broadband infrastructure funding for community-driven broadband expansion.

The Tennessee Broadband Accelerate program helped local governments throughout Tennessee receive expert support as they prepared to leverage new dollars that have been made available through the historic passage of the federal infrastructure program. The opportunity is made possible through the financial support of Heartland Forward and its Connecting the Heartland initiative.

Local units of government – particularly at the county level – were encouraged to apply to receive expert support offered as part of an intensive 16-week community engagement program, designed to turn available public broadband funding into sustainable broadband access. Six community teams were selected to participate in the first cohort, which began on April 12, 2023.

Roane County was one of the six community teams selected to participate. CLICK HERE for the final presentation of information.