Tennessee commits $200M for statewide broadband
Tennessee will spend $200 million in federal funds to expand broadband to all homes by 2028—an infrastructure move local clinics can leverage for telehealth and virtual workplace wellness programs reported.
State officials on March 5, [2026 announced]tnecd.com approval of a BEAD expansion that awards $202 million to 128 projects across 74 counties to reach more than 43,000 previously unserved or underserved locations. Grantees [will provide]tnecd.com roughly $200 million in matching funds, bringing total BEAD investment past $402 million, and the [state targets]hoodline.com project completion by December 2028; TNECD’s recipient roster lists AT&T, Comcast, Amazon Leo and SpaceX with about three-quarters of funded sites slated for fiber. TNECD earlier rolled out named programs including "Digital Skills" and "Connected Community Facilities" as part of its digital opportunity grants for training and facility [upgrades outlined]tnecd.com, and NTIA guidance for BEAD explicitly allows funds for installing internet in community anchor institutions and for adoption and workforce-readiness [programs stating]ntia.gov. United [Communications received]united.net an $18.1 million BEAD award to extend fiber to roughly 1,800 unserved homes (about 4,500 residents) across Maury, Rutherford, Trousdale, Williamson and Wilson counties, a build that locally [includes parts]wilsoncountysource.com of Williamson County near Thompson’s Station.
