Updated March 19, 2019

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has announced nearly $15 million in grants to expand rural broadband in Tennessee.

Some $6 million is designated for rural cooperatives and other small service providers operating in communities in five Southeast and Middle Tennessee counties..

Nearly one in four rural Tennesseans lacks access to broadband, according to the Federal Communications Commission.

Loretto Telephone Company serving parts of Lawrence County, is a recipient of the latest grant totaling $1,050,000. 

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development is working with the grantees who showed a "high need" for grant funding. The administration also says recipients demonstrated the ability to implement and sustain the project long term with strong community support.

Meanwhile, Lee's recommended fiscal year 2020 budget proposal seeks another $20 million to continue closing an access gap to ensure rural Tennesseans have tools needed for growth and prosperity.