David Seals, a teacher at Jefferson County High School and a Jefferson County Commissioner put the following information together for those of us who want easy access to their state representatives. I urge you to write your senator and representative in Nashville to promote the bills to bring broadband and high speed internet to all Tennessee counties.
Jefferson County has a great opportunity to influence state legislation to bring broadband internet to rural areas of our county, and to rural areas of other counties across Tennessee. In order to make it possible for our own electric utility (AEC) to provide a route for broadband providers, we must encourage legislation to be passed in Nashville that will permit local utilities to expand service outside their home service areas. This will enable utilities to partner with other utilities in providing internet services, like AEC and Morristown Power. I firmly believe this is something we can all agree on and work to accomplish. I started working on this effort (along with others) in the Fall of 2014. I encourage you to do the same.
Jefferson County has a great opportunity to influence state legislation to bring broadband internet to rural areas of our county, and to rural areas of other counties across Tennessee. In order to make it possible for our own electric utility (AEC) to provide a route for broadband providers, we must encourage legislation to be passed in Nashville that will permit local utilities to expand service outside their home service areas. This will enable utilities to partner with other utilities in providing internet services, like AEC and Morristown Power. I firmly believe this is something we can all agree on and work to accomplish. I started working on this effort (along with others) in the Fall of 2014. I encourage you to do the same.
Our students need internet for educational purposes. Speaking as an educator, I can not overstate the importance of this issue. Individuals need high speed service for banking, entertainment, communication, security, and many other activities. Business, and potential new business, need high speed internet for obvious reasons. Currently, only a fraction of our citizens are served by high speed internet. This must change; and it will require your effort and the effort of many other people to overcome the tide of political pressure to maintain the laws that restrict internet expansion from one utility to another . Existing internet providers have influence with state legislators and wish to remain unchallenged by utility companies. Plainly said, commercial internet providers do not want any more competition, and do not wish to take the financial risk of expanding in areas of low population density.
Contacting your local legislator will not be enough. The unanimous vote for a resolution enacted by The Jefferson County Commission on November 16th in support of broadband legislation will not be enough. Participating in surveys and attending local meetings will not be enough.
Active web links and email addresses are provided for your convenience.
Here is a list of things you can do make it happen:
1
Call, write, or email the legislators on this list.
(local legislators will not see this legislation on the General Assembly floor unless the various committees approve it first)
2
Forward this information to as many people as possible who are willing and motivated to take action.
3
Use as many opportunities to speak about and promote this issue as possible.
4
Ask questions and learn as much as you can before this opportunity passes. Visit the Tennessee General Assembly web site.
5
Contact Local Community Activist Joe Malgeri (Dandridge) at 248-635-6965
Contacting your local legislator will not be enough. The unanimous vote for a resolution enacted by The Jefferson County Commission on November 16th in support of broadband legislation will not be enough. Participating in surveys and attending local meetings will not be enough.
Active web links and email addresses are provided for your convenience.
Here is a list of things you can do make it happen:
1
Call, write, or email the legislators on this list.
(local legislators will not see this legislation on the General Assembly floor unless the various committees approve it first)
2
Forward this information to as many people as possible who are willing and motivated to take action.
3
Use as many opportunities to speak about and promote this issue as possible.
4
Ask questions and learn as much as you can before this opportunity passes. Visit the Tennessee General Assembly web site.
5
Contact Local Community Activist Joe Malgeri (Dandridge) at 248-635-6965
Broadband Internet Contact List
Information Compiled and Provided by:
David Seal
Jefferson County Commission
District 9
Decision Makers Listed on this Document
Each individual on this list should be encouraged to pass proposed legislation to permit public utilities to provide services outside their respective service areas, giving utilities needed clearance to provide broadband internet services to neighboring utilities and communities. A summary of the proposed Legislation and direct web links are provided in this document.
Proposed Legislation (from last legislative session)
House Bill 1303
Senate Bill 1134
House Bill Sponsor
Representative Kevin Brooks (R) Cleveland Tn. (Sponsor of HB 1303)
Senate Bill Sponsor
Senator Janice Bowling (R) Tullahoma TN. (Sponsor of SB 1134)
Committee Contacts listed on this page can forward information to individual committee members.
House Business and Utilities Committee
Direct web-link to Business and Utilities Committee
Contact
Secretary G-19A War Memorial Bldg.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Phone: (615) 741-6824
Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
Direct web-link to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/
Contact
Analyst
11 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Senate State and Local Government Committee
Direct web-link to Senate State and Local Government Committee
Contact
G-19 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Individual Members of House Business and Utilities Committee
Chair
Representative Pat Marsh
301 6th Avenue North
Suite G-19A War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Vice Chair
Representative Kent Calfee
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 219 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative Martin Daniel
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 109 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative Barry Doss
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 106 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative Kevin Dunlap
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 32 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative Brenda Gilmore
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 26 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative Tillman Goins
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 207 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative Marc Gravitt
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 107 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative Patsy Hazelwood rep.patsy.hazlewood@capitol.
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 20 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative John B. Holsclaw, Jr. rep.john.holsclaw@capitol.tn.
301 6th Avenue North
Suite G-24 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative Harold M. Love, Jr. rep.harold.love@capitol.tn.gov
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 35 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative Gerald McCormick rep.gerald.mccormick@capitol.
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 18A Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative Jason Powell
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 34 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative Jay D. Reedy
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 22 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative Jerry Sexton
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 113 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative Mike Sparks
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 113 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative Art Swain
301 6th Avenue North
Suite G-19A War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Representative Tim Wirgau
301 6th Avenue North
Suite G-2 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Individual Members of Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
Chair
Senator Jack Johnson
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 11 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
First Vice-Chair
Senator Mark Green
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 4 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Second Vice-Chair
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 2 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Senator Todd Gardenhire
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 11A Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Senator Delores R. Gresham
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 308 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Senator Steve Southerland
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 10 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Senator Reginald Tate
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 320 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 13 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
301 6th Avenue North
Suite G-19 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Individual Members Senate State and Local Government Committee
Chair
301 6th Avenue North
Suite G-19 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
First Vice-Chair
Senator Steven Dickerson
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 310 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Second Vice-Chair
Senator Richard Briggs
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 317 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Senator Mark Green
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 4, Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Senator Thelma Harper
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 303 War Memorial Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 3 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Senator Jack Johnson
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 11 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 5 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Senator Mark Norris
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 9A Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Exhibit From the Tennessee General Assembly
Link to Broadband Legislation for Review
BILL SUMMARY
Generally under present law:
(1) Each municipality operating an electric plant is authorized within its service area to provide cable, Internet, and related services within or without the corporate or county limits of such municipality, and, with the consent of such other municipality, within the corporate or county limits of any other municipality; and
(2) Each municipality operating an electric plant has the power and is authorized within its service area and on behalf of its municipality, acting through the authorization of the board or supervisory body having responsibility for the municipal electric plant, to contract to establish a joint venture or other business relationship with one or more third parties to provide such services.
This bill revises the above provisions to remove the restriction of cable, Internet, and related services be provided only within the service are of the municipality operating an electric plant. This bill adds that prior to providing services outside of its electric system service area, the system must obtain the written consent of each electric cooperative or municipal electric system in whose territory the system will provide the services.
(1) Each municipality operating an electric plant is authorized within its service area to provide cable, Internet, and related services within or without the corporate or county limits of such municipality, and, with the consent of such other municipality, within the corporate or county limits of any other municipality; and
(2) Each municipality operating an electric plant has the power and is authorized within its service area and on behalf of its municipality, acting through the authorization of the board or supervisory body having responsibility for the municipal electric plant, to contract to establish a joint venture or other business relationship with one or more third parties to provide such services.
This bill revises the above provisions to remove the restriction of cable, Internet, and related services be provided only within the service are of the municipality operating an electric plant. This bill adds that prior to providing services outside of its electric system service area, the system must obtain the written consent of each electric cooperative or municipal electric system in whose territory the system will provide the services.
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