Tri-County Electric to Build Fiber Network in Trousdale County, TN

LAFAYETTE TN — Tri-County Electric announced plans to build a fiber network throughout Trousdale County and the portion of Sumner County served by the Hartsville District. The project will be a Demand Response Pilot and will allow the rural electric cooperative, through their subsidiary Tri-County Fiber Communications, to provide broadband services to residents of Trousdale County, living in the co-op’s service area and not served by a rural telephone cooperative.

The rural electric cooperative and Hartsville-Trousdale County Metro Government will partner on the project. Tri-County is in the process of finalizing the business model which includes identifying additional business partners and service providers. Finding a way to provide broadband to Trousdale County is something Tri-County Electric has been working on since the fall of 2013.

A Long-term Effort
The board of directors, led by District H (Hartsville) Director and District Attorney General Tommy Thompson, approved moving forward with the pilot program and build-out at their May 25, 2017 board meeting. The rural electric cooperative and Hartsville-Trousdale County Metro Government will partner on the project. Tri-County is in the process of finalizing the business model which includes identifying additional business partners and service providers. Finding a way to provide broadband to Trousdale County is something Tri-County Electric has been working on since the fall of 2013.

“I remember the first conversation we had with County Commission Chairman Mark Beeler regarding the lack of broadband in Trousdale County,” Paul Thompson, executive V.P. and general manager of Tri-County Electric reflected. “This has by no means been an easy endeavor, but because of the commitment of Mark, Mayor Carman, Clint Satterfield, the County Commission, business leaders, such as Lewis Beasley and Betty Lou Taylor, and the community, it has been worthwhile. We also very much appreciate the support of Senator Haile and Representative Weaver.”

Senator Haile and Representative Weaver sponsored legislation during the 2014 legislative session to allow Tri-County Electric to provide broadband in Trousdale County. After studies by the ECD and TACIR were completed, Governor Bill Haslam included broadband legislation in his 2017 legislative package. “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 1930’s and we have searched for ways to bring this needed service to Trousdale County.” stated District H Director Tommy Thompson. “This is a very good day for Tri-County Electric and Trousdale County.”

The project will begin this fall and Tri-County Electric will provide updates as they become available.