NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced more than $200 million in funding to provide broadband internet access to all Tennesseans. State officials expect to achieve 100% broadband access statewide by 2028.

About 20% of households and businesses in Tennessee lacked broadband infrastructure in 2019 when Gov. Bill Lee took office. As of the time of reporting, less than 2% of households and businesses in the state lack broadband infrastructure, representing approximately 43,000 Tennesseans without internet access.

"It used to be a luxury. It's not a luxury anymore. It's definitely a necessity," said Taylre Beaty, State Broadband Director at the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. "We look at broadband as being really a vital piece of that cornerstone that allows for those things to happen, to get access to workforce development opportunities, but also for communities to grow and to thrive, to have successful business, to have successful precision agriculture opportunities, to have a chance to connect and really get the chance to access critical services like healthcare, banking, online marketplace."

Beaty said the department will spend the next 36 months establishing broadband projects and ensuring they remain on schedule. Broadband infrastructure projects across Tennessee are expected to employ Tennesseans.

The department also works with community partners to help residents develop digital skills and access online services. In Nashville, the Metro Action Commission operates a computer lab staffed with digital navigators who assist community members. Pearl Amanfu, program director of Digital Learning and Advancement for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, said her team helps residents not only access internet services but also learn how to use them.

"We're here to make sure that everyone has the skills for the jobs of today. Because sometimes because it's technology, you can learn the skills, but as soon as you learn the skills things are changing so it's our job not just to help people catch up but to help people keep up," she said.