Loretto Telecom awarded more than $1 million in
state broadband grants
Company will match grant dollars to build fiber network in Lawrence
County
LORETTO, Tennessee — The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community
Development announced today that Loretto Telecom has been awarded $1,050,000
under its Broadband Accessibility Grant program.
The company will match these funds, investing a total of $2.1 million to build a fiber
network in Lawrence County.
“This was a highly competitive grant process, and we are thrilled to have been chosen
from among the many companies who applied,” said Jason Shelton, General Manager
of Loretto Telecom. “This grant will help us deliver broadband to an area of the state
that desperately needs access.”
The project calls for building a fiber network in the St. Joseph community. Loretto
Telecom applied last fall for what was the second round of Tennessee’s broadband
grant program.
136 S Main ST
PO Box 130
Loretto, TN 38469
931-853-4351
Many residents in the affected communities submitted testimony to support the grant
application, citing how a lack of reliable broadband negatively impacts their quality of
life.
"More and more, broadband is becoming a necessity to our daily lives," said Rep. Clay
Doggett, who represents the grant area as part of his district. "The governor's grant,
combined with investment and expertise from Loretto Telecom, ensures our rural
residents in Lawrence County will have the same or better access online to business,
education and healthcare opportunities as anyone in the state."
When completed, the network will make high-speed broadband internet access
available to some 219 homes. Beginning in early April, residents can visit
lorettofiber.com to see when fiber optics will be available in their area.
“This program is a strong example of how we can solve the challenge of rural
broadband in this state,” said Levoy Knowles, executive director of the Tennessee
Telecommunications Association. “This public/private partnership resulted in a major
investment in rural broadband last year, and we’re proud to continue that partnership
with today’s announcements.”
The TTA membership includes Loretto Telecom and other independent commercial
companies that provide broadband and phone service, along with the state’s
telecommunications cooperatives.
The Broadband Accessibility Grant program, started under former Gov. Bill Haslam’s
tenure, appears set to continue under the new administration. Gov. Bill Lee’s proposed
state budget not only increases the program by $5 million to a total of $20 million for
the next round, it also moves the program to the base budget instead of its current
status as a non-recurring program.