Consider Broadband When You Go To The Polls

At the risk of sounding cliché, I’m going to join the chorus of people encouraging Tennesseans to make their voices heard by voting in the primaries and general elections this year.

But as the executive director of the Tennessee Telecommunications Association, I’ll also urge our members to consider the voices that best represent support for TTA members in efforts to expand rural broadband in Tennessee.

In this issue of our newsletter, we’ve included the relevant dates for elections and voter registration. While these dates cover state and national races, there are numerous local races in cities and counties from Memphis to Mountain City.

Since TTA doesn’t traditionally endorse candidates, I’m not going to recommend how you should vote. I believe voting is a very personal decision and one I hope you’ll make with significant consideration.

What I will ask is that you take opportunities to make rural broadband an issue with candidates during this campaign season. Whether the candidates come by your office or groups host candidate forums in your area, I’d urge you to bring up the expansion of rural broadband. Help them understand TTA members are the state’s broadband experts with decades of experience.

Communicate to them that TTA members must be an important part of solving the state’s connectivity issues.

As we’ve seen in recent years, decisions made in Nashville can directly create or destroy opportunities for TTA members around the state. No matter who wins the races this fall, TTA and its members will only benefit from having an informed and aware assembly when the legislature convenes in 2019.