The Tennessee Legislature Has Passed A Bill That Could Make It Easier For Rural Areas To Get Access To The Internet Amid Concerns That It Doesn’t Do Enough To Get High-Speed Access Across The State. The Bill, Named The Broadband Accessibility Act Of 2017, Was Pushed By Gov. Bill Haslam As A Way To Help The Economy In Rural Tennessee. The Measure Clears The Way For Nonprofit Electric Co-Ops To Provide Both Internet And Video Service. It Also Gives $45 Million In Grants And Tax Credits To Co-Op’s And Internet Service Providers To Encourage The Development Of Internet In Areas That Don’t Have It.