If you and your family are struggling because you have no broadband Internet access, you need to read this. You are not alone. There are pockets of unserved areas all across Tennessee. Some of these pockets exist because of state laws giving telecoms an effective monopoly over who can provide service and more importantly, who cannot. What a great way to limit competition. The end result is that our Tennessee cities have broadband Internet and rural areas often do not.
About two years ago a group of Bradley County neighbors, who had no access to broadband Internet, formed the "grass roots" group called “Citizens Striving to be Part of the 21st Century." We now recognize our problem is a statewide problem.
In Tennessee there are seven electric service companies providing fiber optic broadband Internet to their customers. However state laws don't allow these companies to provide service outside their “electric footprint.” The telecoms, which have the legal right to provide us service are in no way required to do so. So they don't. These laws have been in effect for over 15 years, are not serving us, and need to be changed. There have been several efforts over the years to change them. However our lawmakers do not have good information as to who actually has wired broadband service available. Previous efforts to collect this information have erroneously reported that most of us have access to wired broadband service, when we do not.
Please join our “grass roots” group by calling 844.528-7597. This is a toll free call available 24/7. Leave your name, address, phone number, and any email address we might use to keep you updated. Please join us. You need us and we need you.
Please voice your opinion by contacting your Tennessee state senator and your Tennessee state representative. If you don’t know their names, contact your local election commission or your county officials. Tell your county mayor, too.
The FCC has even voiced an opinion by ruling that the local electric company EPB can provide us wired Internet access even though we are outside their service area. The state is now suing the FCC saying this is a state’s right issue
Let us hear from you.
Jared Bruckner