Celebrating Smart Rural Community Day in Tennessee

Gov. Bill Lee enshrined Sept. 22 with special significance

As if it wasn’t enough to welcome more than 2,000 colleagues to the NTCA Fall Conference in Nashville, Sept. 19-22, the TNBA, in partnership with NTCA and the state of Tennessee, was given the incredible decree signed by Gov. Bill Lee declaring Sept. 22 as Smart Rural Community Day.

The proclamation (PDF) was given in recognition of the programs and initiatives to promote the advancement of rural communities through broadband.

“What an amazing honor for our broadband providers across Tennessee,” says Levoy Knowles, TNBA executive director. “This is acknowledgement of years of work by our members across the Volunteer State to bring broadband to rural residents and improve their quality of life.”

Brooxie Carlton, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development assistant commissioner of Community and Rural Development, presented the proclamation during the first day of the conference at Gaylord Opryland Resort.

Interest in broadband across Tennessee is at an all-time high, and five TNBA members have been nationally certified as NTCA Smart Rural Communities, including Ben Lomand Connect, DTC Communications, NCTC, Twin Lakes and WK&T.

As mentioned in the proclamation, “these locally operated Tennessee Smart Rural Community broadband providers represent a driving force in the continued economic resilience and prosperity of our State.”

It couldn’t be more true, and the TNBA is thrilled help celebrate the hard work of our members in providing broadband and ensuring rural communities have the same opportunities as urban residents across Tennessee.