Broadband Q3 2024 Status Update
BrightRidge’s Tennessee ECD grant application was approved to extend broadband to unserved areas
BrightRidge Broadband’s Middle Mile broadband grant application has been approved by the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development, with a great deal of support from State Rep. Rebecca Alexander, Rep. Tim Hicks, and State Sen. Rusty Crowe, allowing BrightRidge to move forward with extending broadband to unserved areas in Washington and Greene counties.
As BrightRidge CEO Jeff Dykes mentioned earlier in this newsletter, we are very excited to be awarded a state broadband grant of $6.68 million to match BrightRidge’s $2.86 million investment in the project.
BrightRidge will follow its own $23.4 million investment last year to accelerate deployment with another $9.54 million state and BrightRidge investment to directly improve the lives of more than 2,000 households in western Washington and eastern Greene counties.
Once grant construction is completed by September 2026, BrightRidge will begin expanding fiber access to an additional 3,826 homes along the fiber routes as funding permits.
Phased construction should start in August in the following order: areas south of Fall Branch, South Central, areas near Bowmantown, Lamar community, south of Jonesborough (Mill Springs Road, Bennett Road), and south of Gray (Buckingham Road, Sanders Road, and half of Buffalo
Ridge Road).
These areas were selected based on a lack of broadband internet availability according to guidelines provided by Tennessee EC&D’s Broadband Office. To check availability and completion dates for your home address, please visit MyBrightRidge.com
High-speed Broadband internet allows citizens to participate more fully in society, while those without are at a well-documented disadvantage in accessing many employment, education, and medical services.
A recent BrightRidge survey indicates that 98% of unserved or underserved households needed access to Broadband for telehealth, 61% for remote work, and 42% to perform homework assignments.
BrightRidge deeply appreciates those who participated in the survey. Below are a few of the many comments provided by these families justifying their need for broadband access:
“Our daughter had to move to an apartment where she could get reliable internet. We all prefer her at home!” (Jonesborough)
“My high-school aged child sometimes must drive to where he can get faster internet to complete assignments. Also, my home small business badly needs better internet service.” (Fall Branch)
“For years we paid for more to find out our area is only capable of 10Mb.”(Chuckey)
“We need access for education and healthcare, or we otherwise drive 40 minutes for access.” (Chuckey)
“Remote work is impacted by slow speed. Requires going elsewhere for some work functions.” (Telford)
“My husband and I are senior citizens. We tried telehealth by cellphone, and it was impossible to get a good workable connection.” (Jonesborough area)
“We have an online business that requires dependable internet service.” (Jonesborough)
“I have three school age children who struggle during remote learning because of internet. I also work for the state and my internet makes some aspects impossible.” (Jonesborough)
“Three K12 age children, often cannot complete homework assignments or do research.” (Limestone)
“Both parents are teachers and must stay at school longer each day to do grading and next day planning. (Limestone)
Status of broadband deployment
Check availability for your address at http://mybrightridge.com Offering up to 10 GB symmetrical broadband to all BrightRidge Broadband served locations positions our communities at the top nationally in terms of high-speed availability. By June 30th, BrightRidge Broadband has constructed fiber optic infrastructure to more than 46,000 homes and businesses in Washington and Sulivan counties. In addition to the broadband grant build, BrightRidge Broadband continues to work daily to expand availability, with more than 6,000 additional homes and businesses addressable in the next 12 months. This includes 56 subdivisions with underground utilities and locations in the eastern sections of Johnson City and Jonesborough.
Upgrade Your Connection
BrightRidge Broadband is excited to announce the addition of our new 2.5 Gig Fiber Internet option, bridging the gap between our 1 Gig and 10 Gig offerings. Designed for customers who need more speed and capacity than 1 Gig but don’t require the full power of 10 Gig. This
service provides the perfect balance of performance and affordability. Priced at just $109.98 per month, which includes managed WiFi services of $9.99 per month, the 2.5 Gig service effortlessly handles multiple high-bandwidth tasks at one, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted internet experience. This is an ideal solution for households demanding higher performance for streaming , gaming, video conferencing, and more!
Along with adding the 2.5 Gig option, BrightRidge lowered its managed WiFi service charge from $19.99 to $9.99 for its 10 Gig customers, making all managed WiFi service charges equal across all speed levels. At BrightRidge, we are committed to meeting the ever-changing needs of our customers, and our 2.5 Gig Fiber Internet is a reflection of that dedication. Upgrade today and discover the capabilities of BrightRidge Broadband’s 2.5 Gig Fiber Internet.
