Lawmakers are expected to discuss a key piece of legislation from Governor Haslam that would create incentives for Internet providers who expand to rural areas.
Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act would create those incentives as well as deregulate who qualifies as a provider.
Leaders in rural communities were excited to see the legislation move forward.
"I think we just sort of assume everyone has it," said Margot Fosnes, president of the Robertson County Chamber of Commerce. "It’s shocking to a lot of people that right here in Middle Tennessee, in areas very, very close to Nashville, that’s just not the case."
Large swaths of Robertson County have either been unserved or underserved by broadband providers. In total, more than 725,000 Tennesseans face the same problem.
Fosnes said lack of Internet service can hurt communities in many ways.
"We have entrepreneurs who work from home, we have people who telecommute, we have people who need to work after hours on nights or on weekends and if they don’t have effective broadband access that’s impossible," Fosnes said.
Students are also often forced to find ways to complete homework without working Internet at home.
"They’re staying late at school, they’re going to businesses who have free Wifi," Fosnes said. "If you have college students who are trying to take online classes, it’s really critical. And in Robertson County we have a lower than average rate of college completion. That’s an issue that’s very important to us economic development-wise."
A House subcommittee was set to discuss the legislation Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.
