Tri-County, TCEA Partnership Paves Way To Broadband
Jun 28 2017

In Tri-County Electric’s May 26 broadband announcement, District H Director Tommy Thompson stated, “fiber access is vital to students, businesses and for overall economic growth; not having broadband in today’s world is similar to not having electricity in the 1930s and we have searched for ways to bring this needed service to Trousdale County.”

With Gov. Bill Haslam’s broadband legislation having become state law, Tri-County Electric is in the engineering and design phase of its 240-mile fiber build to serve the residents of Trousdale County.

Tennessee Central Economic Authority President/CEO Charly Lyons, left, stands with Tri-County General Manager Paul Thompson outside the PowerCom industrial park.

In today’s world it is difficult for students to learn and for communities to compete in economic development without a robust broadband network. As a member-owned rural electric cooperative, Tri-County Electric understands this.

In 2012 Four Lake RIDA/Tennessee Central Economic Authority requested proposals to build fiber into PowerCom Industrial Park. Tri-County Electric’s proposal was half the cost of the next provider’s proposal and included free 200/200 Mbps at their office for five years, in addition to closed circuit video monitoring of the park.

Chris Gregory / Hartsville Vidette
Tennessee Central Economic Authority President/CEO Charly Lyons, left, stands with Tri-County General Manager Paul Thompson outside the PowerCom industrial park.

Full article:

http://www.hartsvillevidette.com/local-news/tri-county-tcea-partnership-paved-way-broadband/