(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) – Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville), State Sen. Paul Bailey (R-Sparta) and Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster today announced $4.8 million in federal funding for broadband expansion in Cumberland County.

These federal dollars are associated with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF); it pairs federal resources with private investment to expand services in areas where broadband currently is unavailable.

“This additional federal funding will build upon our body’s recent investment of more than $121 million across the state to enhance access to high-speed internet services up to one gigabyte for our citizens,” said Speaker Sexton. “Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, our families, schools, businesses and health providers have relied heavily on our existing broadband infrastructure. Charter’s commitment and partnership locally will help us all better address critical needs within our community through the enhanced services Charter is providing with this funding.”

This sizeable investment will enable Charter Communications to provide services to roughly 5,979 additional homes in the county. This new area accounts for nearly 20 percent of all households.

“This is great news as we continue our efforts to get more broadband services into our rural communities,” said Sen. Bailey. “There has never been a more important time to improve connectivity than now.  Broadband is not only critical to create high quality jobs for our citizens, it is needed in homes for education, telemedicine, farming and other needs that improve the quality of life for families.  I am very excited that these homes will be connected and am looking forward to seeing many more new locations added in our district in the near future.”

Winning RDOF program bidders were selected, based upon pledging the most private investment to package with federal funding at the lowest cost to taxpayers. All total, Spectrum will receive $93 million in federal RDOF dollars, which will bring a total of 79,193 additional homes across our state online.

“In today’s world, access to reliable broadband is essential,” said Mayor Foster.  “The new RDOF funding is exciting news for Cumberland County.  The $4.8 million investment will help provide broadband access to almost 6,000 homes and businesses.  Since February of 2020, approximately $16,561,133 has been allocated to broadband projects here in Cumberland County.  We are making great progress thanks to these substantial investments in our community.”

For more information on the RDOF, please click below.  Enter Cumberland County TN or your address in the search bar to see the area covered.
https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/maps/rdof-phase-i-dec-2020/