[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6407625,"mediaKeyId","2287598-c2aea1368492e7daaa5eac39e5dfe5b0","parentId",2287598,"title","State officials outline BEAD timeline and Tennessee broadband investments; grant round expected soon","audioSeconds",1654,"startMs",614000,"endMs",2268000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2287598-c2aea1368492e7daaa5eac39e5dfe5b0&start=614&end=2268","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2287598-c2aea1368492e7daaa5eac39e5dfe5b0/thumbnail_614000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6407625/Tennessee/State-officials-outline-BEAD-timeline-and-Tennessee-broadband-investments-grant-round-expected-soon","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6407625-634667dad64214e03f57f4e105e87d92/orig.mp4?Expires=1776235781&Signature=okNrH4AcXlZ4ZNMBozzVunRhP8LgYwAwjACQXlCj3nprjvVfulN0gSecufdap1PZxKcCLP0GLTboi7bbbOH9KVwcpuSSPIr0RmI3t5RI5W6ywlof9mkJ7oWtuViL03Oqp4zmaCfp72mTvRVU1xgktSRphV0rx4uq2i0ySg0HYeT2ZYJQmCQ3Al1byEkVRRzSeY2LRRLPRdesFd0znRVyzoIG7278YdOLf8Fm6zlyUxXZgyPaCT9ZG7OljVJSvmERnedrsdFpjfkcutVXGkWWXJs9m3D3o3dE6xGu-nZqIPXVVEByEv~HrXg9RpbomPHCVQPojty0KJwCNvaWf-l0Yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN State Legislature","date","2025-02-12T00:00:00Z","article","Braden Stover and Taylor Beatty of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD) briefed the House Business and Utility Subcommittee on the state’s federal BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) allocation and the timeline for grant rounds.

Braden Stover said ECD submitted an amendment to its BEAD plan to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) addressing affordability criteria and is awaiting NTIA approval. Stover said ECD has not been directed to pause work and expects to open grant rounds and accept applications once the amendment is approved.

Taylor Beatty, ECD’s broadband director, summarized the program and timeline. She said Tennessee’s BEAD allocation is $813,000,000, derived from a federal formula, and is administered by NTIA. Beatty said there are about 430,000 Tennesseans without broadband access and roughly 70,000 locations classified as unserved or underserved that BEAD funding will target. ECD expects to launch the first grant round in late February if the amendment is approved, with a likely second round in May and a final proposal to NTIA due in August.

Beatty said BEAD is fiber-preferential under current federal guidance: fiber applications will be reviewed first and alternate technologies considered only if fiber proposals are not viable. She explained the timeline constraints: once a state’s initial proposal is approved, the department has 365 days to submit a final proposal specifying coverage and award amounts.

ECD officials recapped 2024 state broadband activity: $264,000,000 invested in broadband programs during the calendar year, including about $131,000,000 for infrastructure and $133,000,000 for digital opportunity programs (connected community facilities, interim solutions, digital skills and workforce development). They said $43,000,000 was spent on digital skills and workforce development and $5,000,000 targeted a TCAT broadband program; projects were funded in 81 counties and efforts have impacted roughly 700,000 Tennesseans. Beatty said BEAD-funded projects must generally be completed by 2030, with Tennessee aiming to finish by 2028.

Committee members asked about reimbursement versus upfront payments for providers; ECD said current state practice is reimbursable invoicing and the department is exploring federal flexibilities but is proceeding on a reimbursable basis pending federal guidance. Members also asked about risks if federal funding were rescinded; ECD said it is proceeding under the assumption funding stands but will monitor federal guidance and would not launch a grant round until funding and approvals were confirmed.

ECD said it will share slides and provide cumulative funding figures on request; officials noted that the state has moved from FCC estimates of more than 20% of Tennesseans lacking access down to under 5% today, citing the department’s programs and investments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Business & Utilities Subcommittee\tFeb 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development officials told the subcommittee the state's BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) allocation is $813 million, the grant round is expected to open in late February pending NTIA approval of an amendment, and the state invested $264 million in broadband programs in 2024.","taxTitle","Business & Utilities, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",78551,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6407630,"Committee clears bill allowing antique-auto auction at Chattanooga Motor Car Festival",100,445000,545000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2287598-c2aea1368492e7daaa5eac39e5dfe5b0&start=445&end=545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2287598-c2aea1368492e7daaa5eac39e5dfe5b0/thumbnail_445000.jpg","/articles/6407630/Tennessee/Committee-clears-bill-allowing-antique-auto-auction-at-Chattanooga-Motor-Car-Festival","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6407630-12194a70634825c7162aa1e190ce3c04/orig.mp4?Expires=1776235781&Signature=GwtauXOHX7Tq078HvWXWfbr71OHIQfIbD5E6VVCWuH-pmNnYm00ObhMkEhSBGHnkv750tnb7bjTBwEeji5X09hN3Mz~QEsd~caXmoB6Sl50WdXa-NjxKxeTQTyna2elszNqVtl0BOuijfOrT5jy~BixJymOjd5NoE8fRPwTzzXPmjwaDS2bRrHP5DRDTdTVgwuSn2mkEmnnXTgLANTMEItZvyudSViCT339Fvo5R8L-W-deyQ~gOQNUtdDQwF1D7yE-bGIGZbys5Hgx3uPYm-Xlm9wm4Y9h7Pozo4bQttDnUcd1TCu5a~tq8m6XEck7a2NSwqJucmKkzVy5aSFp-1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Martin told the Business and Utility Subcommittee that House Bill 303 would permit a one-time antique and unique auto auction at the sixth annual Chattanooga Motor Car Festival, planned for Oct. 17–19.

Martin said the event draws approximately 12,000 attendees each year and serves as an economic catalyst for Chattanooga; event organizers have contributed funding to the CHI Memorial Neuroscience Innovation Foundation. The sponsor framed the bill as supporting a charitable and economic event and asked for committee support.

Committee members asked procedural questions about whether the item is brought annually; Martin said similar unique-auction bills are typically brought each year. By voice tally the clerk recorded 10 ayes, 0 nays and the subcommittee forwarded House Bill 303 to full Commerce.

The transcript does not include the bill’s statutory language or any fiscal note.","House Bill 303, allowing a one-time antique and unique auto auction at the Chattanooga Motor Car Festival, passed the subcommittee unanimously and is headed to full Commerce; sponsor said the festival draws about 12,000 attendees and supports local charitable giving.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6407634,"Subcommittee sends 'Ink of Hope' bill to full committee to require trafficking awareness training for tattoo artists",95,333000,428000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2287598-c2aea1368492e7daaa5eac39e5dfe5b0&start=333&end=428","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2287598-c2aea1368492e7daaa5eac39e5dfe5b0/thumbnail_333000.jpg","/articles/6407634/Tennessee/Subcommittee-sends-Ink-of-Hope-bill-to-full-committee-to-require-trafficking-awareness-training-for-tattoo-artists","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6407634-3a5439a79bffc819374f45cce763fa2f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776235781&Signature=FGf0iWajMnuUSbCxylYuBbok165wKwsuZqdofoxx9d4bHihAqI3c0eEO7zcWfasEX88e-PWSZLSY4WXLT7wi7-itYKnECXWvvxAA6MSlA-ryF3TMaM0lNhkWW7VQ2NIgxrgTHA0CzUToWEwPG6fdYdSevUn0Sjsf2MJap7XdRMpFqSYLuFARNJjREFlBJfkJvJvcPoFk0JaOuCvtOlgcvOFp6pJlwYdDEmoVz14NiBKTFfSwDrI3zB7Gbt39f5Q9oekmHyDtjdEDosQ7kh5eyFdmnUH~pbFNZ~BUei8prPxdqTsFAUhExNsQMGF-sVmvpWgZ1KIQFjt~jYFa1j~OkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairlady Littleton told the subcommittee that House Bill 182, titled the Ink of Hope Act, would integrate human-trafficking awareness training into the state licensure requirements for tattoo artists.

Littleton said trafficking perpetrators frequently use tattoos to mark or brand victims as a method of control, and that licensed tattoo artists are positioned to recognize signs of trafficking and report suspicions to law enforcement. The sponsor said the training would equip tattoo professionals with tools to identify signs and report safely.

Committee members registered no questions and the clerk recorded a voice tally of 10 ayes, 0 nays; the subcommittee sent House Bill 182 to the full Commerce Committee.

The transcript contains no full statutory text or fiscal analysis; the sponsor framed the measure as an anti-trafficking tool leveraging the tattoo industry’s potential role in identifying survivors.","House Bill 182, the 'Ink of Hope Act,' was approved by the Business and Utility Subcommittee and forwarded to full Commerce on a 10-0 tally; the bill would add human-trafficking awareness training to tattoo licensure requirements to help identify and report victims.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6407638,"Subcommittee advances bill allowing Cleveland utility authority board members to be paid",115,203000,318000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2287598-c2aea1368492e7daaa5eac39e5dfe5b0&start=203&end=318","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2287598-c2aea1368492e7daaa5eac39e5dfe5b0/thumbnail_203000.jpg","/articles/6407638/Tennessee/Subcommittee-advances-bill-allowing-Cleveland-utility-authority-board-members-to-be-paid","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6407638-aef247963cbd415272c6f4999e53ac5a/orig.mp4?Expires=1776235781&Signature=AKVkhdZD8jaQk0JW6ss~CFxNGX82qERu4iAS8y9S73XvI-qD0zWUd96J3DSef0Wi6CmnHRuHiSGwhcyfEPG5ormfNsQQnHc2aUoQPoBZ8MEJykkhVjLqqAZIXlsGPdFR4pNXquaojoxQiQmKi7VdVjbab12MA4uzRaO84mSqVDsDByj16CwkXsyIopY1YKc0jhdQR2Yr-D3SZLNCB7JEzqD64UY-I2frbrorgz8O7pMaTo3aM67toDeGoMOO28pfIDjtF-PlrmxL1DINPVTMoayVB9f-Qbwutv26~Sep2eeY~~NEiKOuRrsUJoBjBsJOM~2v~3kEBozpD2OPAw4zEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Howell told the House Business and Utility Subcommittee that House Bill 100 restores a statutory provision permitting board member compensation for the Cleveland Utility Authority, which recently converted from a municipal electric company in Bradley County.

Howell said the city council in Cleveland amended the municipal utility to create an authority as the utility expands into broadband, electric, water and wastewater services. He said a section of state code that permits compensation for comparable authorities (citing TCA 7-52-110) was mistakenly omitted during the local change and that the bill simply reinserts that provision so Cleveland’s board members can be paid like other similar boards.

Committee members called for a vote after the sponsor’s explanation. The clerk recorded a voice tally of 10 ayes, 0 nays; the subcommittee sent House Bill 100 to the full Commerce Committee.

Howell told members he would appear before full committee next week. The transcript does not include the bill’s final text, nor any fiscal note discussed at the subcommittee meeting.","The Business and Utility Subcommittee approved House Bill 100 to restore a compensation provision for Cleveland’s recently converted municipal electric utility authority and sent the bill to full Commerce on a 10-0 voice tally.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6407642,"Subcommittee delays vote on reducing utility board training hours after legal review",117,73000,190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2287598-c2aea1368492e7daaa5eac39e5dfe5b0&start=73&end=190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2287598-c2aea1368492e7daaa5eac39e5dfe5b0/thumbnail_73000.jpg","/articles/6407642/Tennessee/Subcommittee-delays-vote-on-reducing-utility-board-training-hours-after-legal-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6407642-89979d36cc136edb596b74213c6555af/orig.mp4?Expires=1776235781&Signature=QuV8jUllqUBv4IE4oVHFUCBzhzZqhtBXh7dNw8tPva-aSfGR14vScD5BSJK3xK4b3TuZ1g0f8~cCA4XH81niRpwJj4PIFC5-pkjs~b82wnty~bjsOLdqR1R-UOnhVt1KrL6mBcWk2hEjfcV8jxeM4ewOFdVKPCjzeg0p5KkJUOIkjMpaJA1wqA66koCIl0TUE2lh-FORtIDbl4KATW0LVfrc46tRSODRznHxmL1xgvB3zkMOlDIodcD7zFo3RwL4g-rES7FoCOWFhFH5wOGSBf95CMSRZCK0P5SQP302iSqU8PgTP-19~D9gqtu3bK6U8nSFYnZW3-ribhEf9cihkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee House Business and Utility Subcommittee on Wednesday postponed consideration of House Bill 421, which would reduce certain continuing-education requirements for utility board members and change rules for reinstatement after disqualification.

Sponsor Speaker Pro Tem Marsh described the bill as a pair of technical changes to statutes governing local utility authorities. Marsh said the bill would cut the additional continuing-education requirement from 12 hours over three years to 6 hours and would bar a former utility commissioner who is disqualified for failing to obtain required training from later rejoining a board “forever,” unless a separate training-and-approval path is satisfied.

The measure drew a procedural intervention from staff. During questioning, the committee chair said legal services had identified language that needs correction before the bill can move to full committee. Without objection from members, the subcommittee rolled House Bill 421 for two weeks to allow staff to correct the drafting issue.

The postponement was entered by unanimous consent; no roll-call vote occurred. Committee members asked only clarifying questions for the sponsor before agreeing to delay action.

The subcommittee did not take further action on the bill’s policy substance at Wednesday’s meeting. Marsh and legal staff indicated the delay was to fix statutory language before a full committee vote could be scheduled.","The House Business and Utility Subcommittee postponed consideration of House Bill 421, which would reduce continuing-education requirements for utility board members and change disqualification rules, after legal services flagged a required correction; the measure was rolled for two weeks without objection.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State officials outline BEAD timeline and Tennessee broadband investments; grant round expected soon

Committee clears bill allowing antique-auto auction at Chattanooga Motor Car Festival

Subcommittee sends 'Ink of Hope' bill to full committee to require trafficking awareness training for tattoo artists

Subcommittee advances bill allowing Cleveland utility authority board members to be paid

Subcommittee delays vote on reducing utility board training hours after legal review