Birchwood broadband expansion project set to reach nearly 300 homes
MORE: About ten percent of Hamilton County residents in unincorporated areas still don’t have access to broadband internet.
However, for 300 residents in the Birchwood area, this will soon change, and it could lead to more than just faster internet.
Retha Womack and Linda Wright are lifelong residents of Birchwood, and currently volunteer at the town’s community center.
“We’re so thankful that we’ve got so many people backing us, we love this old school,” said Womack.
That center, which is the former Birchwood School, is a lifeline for the community and hosts major events such as the Sandhill Crane Festival.
However, the center, like many residents in this remote part of Hamilton County, do not have broadband internet.
“When we have a festival like the Crane Day, that would’ve been wonderful, because most people won’t carry cash. Everywhere you go is swipe a card, so that would help out in the future,” said Womack.
Wright added, “Phone service too. The phone service is not that well is up here.”
With the announcement that service is expanding from the Center down Birchwood Pike, addressing the gap in coverage has been a top priority.
VEC CEO Dion Cooper said, “Whether it’s educational, or if it’s business, even this community center that we’re in today, if you’re going to have opportunities for the youth, you have to connect to the internet.”
Another topic discussed was that currently in this portion of the county, students have to travel 15 miles to the nearest elementary school in Snow Hill.
With the expansion of broadband internet in this portion of the county, officials hope this leads to a new school in Northeastern Hamilton County.
Mayor Wamp said, “It’s a shame that as our community has advanced, educational opportunities in this part of the county have gone backwards. Now, good internet is a step in the right direction, but we need to have serious conversations about reinvestment into education in northeastern Hamilton County.”
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BIRCHWOOD, Tenn. (WDEF) — Nearly 300 homes in Birchwood are set to gain access to high-speed broadband internet as work begins on a critical expansion project.
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp and State Representative Greg Vital revealed that the initiative, led by Volunteer Energy Cooperative (VEC), will bring fiber-optic internet to 296 homes.
The project is funded in part by a $615,617 grant from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
“Reliable broadband is a necessity for education, business, and connecting our community’s youngest and oldest learners with the world. This project is a significant step in closing the digital gap for residents in North Hamilton County.”
-Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp
The expansion will extend fiber-optic lines along Birchwood Pike from Highway 60 to David Hill Road.
Additional extensions will reach westward to the Tennessee River and eastward along Grasshopper Road to Pierce Road.
“I’m proud to see this essential infrastructure project moving forward. High-speed internet is necessary for families, students, and businesses in today’s world, and this partnership between Hamilton County and VEC is a significant step toward ensuring every resident in North Hamilton County has the connectivity they need to thrive. The expansion of broadband in District 29 has been one of my priorities since first elected. I am appreciative of VEC and Hamilton County working together for the Birchwood area.”
-District 29 Representative Greg Vital
In addition to the broadband expansion, Hamilton County recently secured a state grant to develop a modern computer lab at the Birchwood Community Center and enhance digital infrastructure in unincorporated areas.
The county earned its Broadband Ready Community designation in November 2023.
