Tennessee Broadband Association launches new podcast focused on state leaders

Premier episode of “Lead Tennessee Radio” features Speaker Sexton

A new Tennessee-based podcast is bringing listeners insightful conversations with those who are leading the state. “Lead Tennessee Radio” features interviews with lawmakers, public officials and others with a role in the growth and progress of Tennessee.

The podcast is produced by the Tennessee Broadband Association, whose membership includes cooperative and independent telecommunications companies in the state. “Our association members are close to their communities, and they understand that decisions made in Nashville impact those they serve,” says Levoy Knowles, executive director of the TNBA and host of the show. “This podcast is a great opportunity to have conversations with these leaders and to share their thoughts with a wide audience.”

Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, is featured in the first episode of “Lead Tennessee Radio.” Currently serving his fifth term representing House District 25, Sexton was elected Speaker in August.

In the interview, Sexton discusses issues facing rural Tennessee, including health care, telemedicine and the role of broadband in rural development.

The growing popularity of streaming audio programs is what led the TNBA to start a public service podcast. The 2019 Infinite Dial survey, conducted by Edison Research and Triton Digital, revealed that for the first time, 51% of Americans age 12 and over have listened to a podcast, with 32% having listened in the past month and 22% in the past week.

That same report showed that 41% of monthly podcast listeners say they are listening to more podcasts today compared to one year ago.

“Our members’ fiber networks are bringing broadband into homes, schools and businesses, and connecting the cell towers that our mobile phones use,” says Knowles. “This technology supports streaming audio such as podcasts, along with many other news and entertainment formats. Launching our own podcast was a logical step for our association.”

Lead Tennessee Radio can be found on apps such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Upcoming episodes will feature leaders from the Tennessee State Senate and State House of Representatives. Topics will include issues that lawmakers will face in the 2020 General Assembly.

# # #

The Tennessee Broadband Association is comprised of independent and cooperatively owned companies that connect almost 30% of the state with broadband and related services. Together these companies will invest $400 million in fiber networks from 2019 to 2022, in addition to the millions they have already invested to build fiber across the state in recent years.