800,000 Tennesseans still can’t get broadband
NASHVILLE (WDEF) – Tennessee releases a report on broadband connectivity in the state on Tuesday.
The survey found that 13% of residents do not have access to broadband that meets the federal standard.
That means 25 megabytes per second download speed and 3 megabytes per second for uploads.
23,000 Tennesseans took part in the survey between January and March.
16% of economic development agencies surveyed said they are losing new businesses because of poor broadband connections.
“The department commissioned this report to establish benchmarks on broadband access in Tennessee,” TNECD Commissioner Randy Boyd said. “We need to evaluate these options and begin a meaningful dialogue.”
Governor Bill Haslam received the report on Tuesday, saying it will provide the roadmap to closing the gaps.
“The information in this report is a starting point to advance the conversation about broadband access in our state,” Haslam said.
“Not every option included in the report may be the answer for Tennessee, nor is there one simple solution,” Boyd added. “With the menu of options provided in the study, decision makers can begin a dialogue to find a win-win-win combination to ensure our communities have the broadband they need.”
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