Tennessee Telecom Association

Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Grant Applications Due Oct. 11

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With the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act’s second round of grants, members of the Tennessee Telecommunications Association will continue to play an integral role as broadband access expands.

“I’ve said for years that the challenge of bringing broadband to all Tennesseans would involve a multiprong solution, but that TTA members should be at the center of that,” says Levoy Knowles, executive director of the TTA.

Grants for about $45 million over three years and tax credits for service providers made the first round of grants a success, Knowles says. In the second round, the maximum grant request is again $2 million. And the grant can cover as much as 50 percent of eligible project expenses.

The Broadband Accessibility Grant program is designed to offset capital expenses in the deployment of broadband in unserved areas. The goal of the program is to bring broadband to all Tennesseans and to promote practices that increase broadband deployment.

More than half the grants awarded so far have gone to TTA members. “We’re encouraging our TTA members to apply for these grants and receive more funding as it becomes available,” Knowles says.

Grant applications are due by Oct. 11, and there are a few changes in the guidelines. Grant recipients will be announced in February 2019.

Upcoming Elections Impact Broadband Internet

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Access to broadband internet is one of the biggest challenges facing the telecommunications industry, both in Tennessee and across the nation.

That’s why it’s important to know where each candidate stands on broadband deployment.

While the Tennessee Telecommunications Association doesn’t endorse candidates, it urges all members to learn each candidate’s policy positions before committing to a candidate.

“It’s important to vote for someone who relates to our ideals,” says Levoy Knowles, executive director of the TTA.“The TTA is the winner if we elect candidates who understand the importance of broadband and what it means to our future.”

Key dates:

Aug. 2: Federal and state primary election and county general election

Oct. 9: Last day to register to vote for the Nov. 6 election

Oct. 17-Nov. 1: Early voting for Nov. 6 election

Nov. 6: Election day for federal and state candidates

Governor Haslam Adds $5 Million To Broadband Grants

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In his 2018-2019 budget amendment, Gov. Bill Haslam took advantage of increasing revenues to fund projects supporting school safety, opioid addiction, aeronautics job training — and rural broadband.

The amendment added $5 million in nonrecurring grant money to the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Grant program. Coupling that with the $10 million already allotted for the grants, the state is offering $15 million to broadband providers in support of bringing broadband to some of the states’ rural communities.

“By significantly increasing the amount of grant funding for these projects, the governor is showing not just that broadband is essential for all Tennesseeans, but also that he has faith in providers like our TTA members to build the networks in the rural parts of our state,” said TTA Executive Director Levoy Knowles. “TTA members received about half of the funding in the first round of grants, and as Tennessee’s rural broadband experts, I would expect another strong showing the next time the grants are announced.”

The initial round of grants, announced in January, included five grants for TTA members:

  • Aeneas Communications: $190,000 to serve parts of Hardeman County
  • Ben Lomand Communications: $1 million to serve the Pocahontas Community in Coffee County
  • DTC Communications: $1.7 million to serve parts of Smith and Wilson counties
  • Scott County Telephone Cooperative: $1.9 million to serve Surgoinsville in Hawkins County
  • Volunteer First Services: $76,714 to serve the Sunset Ridge Community in Cumberland County

Other grant recipients include Comcast, Gibson Electric Membership Corporation, Sunset Digital Communications and Tri-County Fiber Communications.

 

SkyBest Communications Enters Into Acquisition Agreement with Loretto Telecom

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Just a few days into 2018, TTA member Loretto Telecom announced it had entered an acquisition agreement with SkyBest, that, pending regulatory approval, would have SkyBest purchase Loretto’s stock. The deal closed on April 30, bringing Loretto into the Skyline/Skybest family. SkyBest, a subsidiary of SkyLine Telephone Membership Corp., is a member-owned telephone cooperative based in North Carolina. Like family-owned Loretto Telephone, SkyBest is also a member of the Tennessee Telecommunications Association.

“Ms. Louise Brown, chairman of the board, and our family have always treasured our legacy in providing premiere telecommunications services and have selected an excellent company in SkyBest Communications to transfer the legacy obligations that our family has always held dear,” says Desda Passarella Hutchins, Loretto Telecom president and chief executive officer.

Loretto Telephone Co., incorporated in 1956, has almost 3,500 access lines. Loretto Communication Service formed in 2000 to expand offerings such as broadband and medical alert services.

Jimmy Blevins, SkyBest chief executive officer, affirms the future of Loretto Telecom.

“Our cooperative and subsidiaries have enjoyed a long history of operating a state-of-the-art network, providing the very latest telecommunications and exceptional customer service, and investing in our communities, and we commit to continue this tradition of excellence for Loretto Telecom customers in the years to come,” Blevins says.

SkyLine has about 27,343 access lines across four counties in North Carolina and Johnson City, Tennessee.

In October, SkyLine announced the purchase of Chesnee Telephone Co., an independent exchange with 2,750 access lines in South Carolina.

The deal closed on April 30, bringing Loretto into the Skyline/Skybest family.

Day On The Hill To Take Place At Legislature’s New Home

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Tennessee’s lawmakers have a new home.

This year, the legislature has moved to the newly renovated Cordell Hull building, located between the state Capitol and the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville. TTA staff and lobbyists have scheduled meetings throughout the day with various lawmakers around the state.

TTA member company executives will be visiting the new facility for the Legislative Day on the Hill on March 6 in their annual effort to raise awareness of rural telecommunications needs and obstacles.

“We’ve seen from the Broadband Accessibility Act and ad valorem tax revisions last year that legislators are willing to help us fight the challenges of broadband access for rural Tennesseeans — but only if they know what those challenges are,” says TTA Executive Director Levoy Knowles. “The Day on the Hill is an important opportunity to make sure lawmakers know and understand the issues we’re facing.”

The legislative session kicked off Jan. 9 in the renovated Cordell Hull building on the grounds of the Tennessee State Capitol. The building opened in November, following months of renovation. It also houses the comptroller of the treasury.

The 11-story, 479,000-square-foot structure received a $126 million makeover, including a new roof, windows, electric generator, plumbing and nearly all electrical systems.

Demolition was discussed originally, but the decision was made to renovate the historical structure, built from 1952 to 1954. The building was named in honor of Hull, a native of Tennessee who served as secretary of state from 1933 to 1944 under Franklin D. Roosevelt. Hull was also the first Tennessean to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

The renovated structure makes access easier for the public. Also, the committee rooms for the House and Senate have more space.

There are two public entrances, one off 5th Avenue, across from Municipal Auditorium, and the other off 6th Avenue, across from the Capitol.

A new tunnel to connect the building to the Capitol is more than 80 feet underground and 452 feet long. Architects designed the new tunnel to include several arches to break up the long walk. Faster elevators to and from the tunnel also are new.

Knowles says legislators have adapted to the new space quickly and that he hopes TTA will have a good number of member companies represented to welcome the lawmakers into their new home. “Last year was a remarkably busy year for broadband and telecommunications legislation,” Knowles says. “It’s important for us to have a good showing this year to show our appreciation to the senators and representatives who listened to our positions over the last few years.”