Senator Joey Hensley, MD; Tennessee 28th District Capitol Hill Week in Review

Bill aims to expand access to broadband internet in rural

Legislation aimed at expanding access to broadband internet in rural communities advanced through the Commerce and Labor Committee this week.

Building on successful legislation passed in 2017, Senate Bill 2034 would allow rural electric and community services cooperatives to provide broadband services outside their service area to people who do not purchase electricity from the cooperative. Existing law makes such allowances for telephone and telecommunication service, but not broadband. The bill also includes a “good neighbor provision...