Newport, TN – The latest broadband and technology is on its way to Cocke County.

 

A team of local volunteers has joined a statewide effort to bring high-speed Internet to every home, school, organization and business in the state.

 

With fast Internet service, students can watch live science experiments hundreds of miles away; doctors can get a quick second opinion on an x-ray; and farmers can keep track of their livestock using small radio tags.

 

The Cocke County eCommunity Leadership Team is dedicated to making more technology available locally. The committee is part of Tennessee’s plan to deliver statewide access to high-speed Internet, also called broadband. Ultimately, the goal of the Trail to Innovation is to increase the number of high-tech companies and jobs in Tennessee.

 

Eventually, every county will have its own technology team. More than 15 local leaders already are involved in Cocke County’s eCommunity Leadership Team. The team is now in the process of evaluating the current state of technology in the county, determining what improvements are needed and devising a plan for achieving those goals. 

 

The evaluation process is designed to provide a benchmark for the community’s current readiness to participate in the enormous economic, social, governmental and personal changes that high-speed communications entail. More importantly, this guide provides a vision of specific steps and actions the community—government, businesses, schools, community groups, and citizens—can take to benefit from these changes.

 

Community members interested in the project are welcome to join future meetings. Volunteers represent the following areas:

 

Agriculture

Business and industry

Community-based organizations

Government

Healthcare

Higher education

K-12 education

Libraries

Tourism, recreation and parks

 

The meetings are organized by Connected Tennessee, a non-profit group that is working to accelerate the availability and use of technology throughout the state toward creating a better business environment, more effective community and economic development, improved healthcare, enhanced education and more efficient government.  

 

Cocke County Mayor Iliff MacMahan said “Bringing high-speed Internet to our community just makes good sense. Kids today understand that technology equals opportunity. We want to create an environment that allows our children to grow and thrive, opening doors for their future right here in our county.  From healthcare to education, agriculture to business – technology can help us reach our full potential as a viable, sustainable community.”

 

The use of broadband technology is already enhancing the lives and businesses of citizens all across the state. In fact, 49% of Tennessee businesses say that broadband has already improved the success of their business. Many companies cite the availability of broadband as essential to starting or expanding their operations. Technology enables small business people to live in a rural area and sell their products around the world. It also enables large companies to work more efficiently.

 

Broadband also promises to boost the economy and quality of life in Tennessee. For example, doctors can remotely monitor patients with chronic illnesses, working parents can complete their college degrees by attending classes online and tourists can make online reservations.

 

If you have suggestions regarding how technology in your community can be improved to better serve the citizens of your county, Connected Tennessee wants to hear from you. To learn more or to submit your comments or ideas, please visit the Connected Tennessee website at www.connectedtn.org.

 

For more information about the project or to join the eCommunity Leadership Team, please contact Connected Tennessee East Tennessee eCommunity Strategies Project Manager Steve Buttry at 865-567-9112 or sbuttry@connectedtn.org.

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About Connected Tennessee:  As a public-private partnership, Connected Tennessee partners with technology-minded businesses, government entities and universities to accelerate technology in the state.  For more information about what Connected Tennessee is doing to accelerate technology in Tennessee’s communities, visit: www.connectedtn.org. 

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