(NASHVILLE) — State Representative Mark Cochran (R-Englewood) today announced he has helped secure a Broadband Accessibility Grant totaling approximately $1.5 million for Tellico Telephone Company, Inc. to expand broadband access in Monroe County. Additionally, Cochran supported efforts to secure a $1.3 million Broadband Accessibility Grant for the Volunteer Energy Cooperative to increase broadband services in McMinn County.
These grants will support broadband deployment to 740 homes in the Vonore community of Monroe County and 867 homes in the Spring Creek community of western McMinn County. The overall goal of these grants is to facilitate broadband access to all Tennesseans, while promoting practices that increase deployment and broadband adoption. Funding targets underserved or unserved areas that are unlikely to receive reliable broadband services without these grant dollars.
“I appreciate Governor Lee’s and our Department of Economic & Community Development’s investments in support of broadband expansion in our communities,” said Representative Cochran. “These grant dollars will help support future economic growth across our region. I am grateful to our local officials for their hard work securing these funds through an extremely competitive process, and it was an honor to support them.”
Grantees will provide $20 million in matching funds for a combined investment of nearly $35 million across the state for the second year of funding. Infrastructure should be built out within two years of receiving the grant funds.
For more information about the Broadband Accessibility Grant Program, please click here.
Mark Cochran serves as Majority Treasurer for the 111th Tennessee General Assembly. Cochran is also a member of the House Consumer & Human Resources and House Education Committees, as well as the House Consumer and House Higher Education Subcommittees. Cochran lives in Englewood and represents Tennessee House District 23, which includes McMinn and a portion of Monroe Counties. He can be reached by email at: Rep.Mark.Cochran@capitol.tn.gov or by calling (615) 741-1725.