DTC And WK&T Received Smart Rural Community Grant Funding

Posted: June 1, 2020

Funding will allow recipients to improve technology within their community

Two Tennessee Broadband Association members received Smart Rural Community grants from NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association to help expand broadband in their region.

DTC Communications, based in Alexandria, and WK&T, based in Mayfield, Kentucky, were two of four broadband providers that were notified at RTIME, an annual conference of rural telecommunications companies.

DTC received $3,120 and will use those funds to provide easier and more secure access to the Smith County Agricultural Center with smart locks and a broadband-based security system.

“We are very grateful to NTCA for this funding,” DTC Chief Executive Officer Chris Townson said. “This is a great opportunity to use these funds to make the county ag center more secure and more efficient. This investment into our community should pay for itself within the first year.”

WK&T received $5,000 that will be used to provide broadband access points in a new $12 million local library. WK&T will add $10,000 to the grant funds for a total investment of $15,000.

“About a third of the residents in this region do not have access to broadband in their home,” said Trevor Bonnstetter, WK&T chief executive officer. “These grant funds will enable us to provide broadband access and the vast online resources there to students and adults who otherwise would not have a fast, reliable internet connection.”

The Smart Rural Community grant program is an annual opportunity for rural telecommunications providers to deploy broadband solutions within their communities. All winners are required to contribute matching funds.

According to Josh Seidmann, vice president of policy at NTCA, SRC grants promote collaboration among broadband providers and other local leaders to leverage broadband-enabled solutions to generate innovative, economic development, education, health care and other vital solutions for rural areas.
For more information about the grant program, visit ntca.org.