IE 11 Not Supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

FCC Helps to Close Digital Divide in Tennessee

More than $26 million is dedicated to provide broadband to over 81,000 rural Tennesseans.

(TNS) -- AT&T plans to extend high-speed Internet access to more than 81,000 homes and businesses in rural areas across Tennessee over the next six years, through an FCC funding program. Through the FCC's Connect America Fund, AT&T will receive more than $26 million annually to provide the broadband service.

Daniel Hayes, director of public affairs for AT&T, said details on which areas in East Tennessee are likely to receive the service are not yet available.

"The FCC has identified the locations that qualify for the program, but at this point they have only released a breakdown to the state level," Hayes said.

Acting on the idea that in some remote areas broadband service is not economically viable, in 2011 the FCC updated its Universal Service Program to include support of networks capable of providing broadband and voice services. The FCC created the Connect America Fund for expanding broadband coverage in rural areas where market forces and economics would not support it.

The FCC is earmarking $29 million annually over six years to expanding broadband service in Tennessee, with other carriers sharing in the $3 million annually not committed to AT&T. The Universal Service Program is funded through charges on customers' telephone bills.

As part of the agreement, AT&T will deliver broadband speeds of at least 10 megabits per second for downloads and at least 1 megabit per second for uploads.

"Connectivity to broadband is essential in today's economy, and this additional deployment of high-speed Internet in rural areas will make communities across the state more attractive to future investment," Amy New, Tennessee's assistant commissioner for rural development said in a statement.

"AT&T has been investing in our state for more than 135 years," AT&T Tennessee President Joelle Phillips said in a statement. "We are pleased to add these Connect America Fund resources to continue bringing high-speed Internet services to more Tennesseans."

©2015 the Knoxville News-Sentinel (Knoxville, Tenn.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.