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Aug 18, 2025 19:46:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2020 13:46:49 GMT
"Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group today announced $61 million will be awarded in Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund grants to improve access to broadband internet across the state. The grants are funded through the State’s Coronavirus Relief Fund allotment from the federal government and distributed through the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. “The COVID-19 pandemic has only further elevated the importance of access to reliable, affordable broadband internet to facilitate telemedicine, distance learning, and telecommuting,” said Gov. Lee. “I thank the members of our Financial Stimulus Accountability Group and the Department of Economic and Community Development for their work in distributing these funds to shovel-ready projects that will directly benefit Tennesseans.”" What a concept!! Taking tax money and using it to help those who have access issues to the lifeblood of modern life - the internet. Hoping that the money actually got allocated well, to least cost/best outcome providers through their grant process and grant reporting requirements (and believe me I've written enough gov grant apps to know how detailed they can and should be). Well. Well. Looks like Government IS tha answer to the problem - LOTS of times. ps - More governmenting! Wow - even Red States need a hand out sometimes. "The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced a grant Saturday for Tennessee under the Lost Wages Assistance program that would give unemployed residents who are out of work an additional $300 a week on top of state-provided unemployment assistance." www.tn.gov/governor/news/2020/8/21/gov--lee-announces--61-million-in-emergency-broadband-grants.htmlwww.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-news/fema-announces-additional-300-a-week-for-unemployed-tennesseans-due-to-covid-19/ |
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Post by ameslou on Aug 23, 2020 13:57:55 GMT
Hate to be a Debbie Downer, but $61M is not going to to very far in rural communities, esp those in the mountain counties. It needs another “0” on the end of that number.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:46:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2020 14:23:19 GMT
Hate to be a Debbie Downer, but $61M is not going to to very far in rural communities, esp those in the mountain counties. It needs another “0” on the end of that number. Fair enough, but at least they're to the part of the story where - in a society, we help each other and it's not "pu$$y" to get help when you need it. |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Aug 23, 2020 15:23:52 GMT
Fair enough, but at least they're to the part of the story where - in a society, we help each other and it's not "pu$$y" to get help when you need it. They just signed a bill to make protesting/rioting a FELONY with mandatory jail time! |
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Post by ameslou on Aug 23, 2020 16:28:25 GMT
See the post above about the draconian law just passed related to protesting.
One of the first things the Republican Party did when they gained control in the state was to essentially gut the power of the state teacher's union. The union no longer has the power to negotiate as a group for their best interests using a collective bargaining agreement. Fast forward to 2020 and teachers are forced into a terrible decision of whether or not to teach in a state where our Governor is kow towing to Trump and refusing to issue a statewide mask order or to open in schools in a manner that protects teachers(*). If teachers choose not to teach this year, it's not just walking away from their job ... it's walking away from the pension system that you've spent decades of your career participating in. Choosing to walk away this year has a significant negative impact on your pension benefits, particularly if you are close to retirement age.
(*) - My kids HS said basically, "we're going to do the best we can, but there's no way we can adhere to the CDC social distancing guidelines".
SO - Gov Lee's pronouncement that they're going to "expand broadband" by throwing chump change at the problem is really only intended to get "credit for doing something about the problem" - BUT IT'S NOT AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION. I'm not impressed. Tennessee has 95 counties, if we say that 15 of them are not rural that leaves 80 counties remaining ... or $760,000 per county. That's just not going to go very far in terms of adding significant improvements to rural communities.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:46:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2020 17:50:12 GMT
See the post above about the draconian law just passed related to protesting. One of the first things the Republican Party did when they gained control in the state was to essentially gut the power of the state teacher's union. The union no longer has the power to negotiate as a group for their best interests using a collective bargaining agreement. Fast forward to 2020 and teachers are forced into a terrible decision of whether or not to teach in a state where our Governor is kow towing to Trump and refusing to issue a statewide mask order or to open in schools in a manner that protects teachers(*). If teachers choose not to teach this year, it's not just walking away from their job ... it's walking away from the pension system that you've spent decades of your career participating in. Choosing to walk away this year has a significant negative impact on your pension benefits, particularly if you are close to retirement age.(*) - My kids HS said basically, "we're going to do the best we can, but there's no way we can adhere to the CDC social distancing guidelines". SO - Gov Lee's pronouncement that they're going to "expand broadband" by throwing chump change at the problem is really only intended to get "credit for doing something about the problem" - BUT IT'S NOT AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION. I'm not impressed. Tennessee has 95 counties, if we say that 15 of them are not rural that leaves 80 counties remaining ... or $760,000 per county. That's just not going to go very far in terms of adding significant improvements to rural communities. Red states gonna red state. Until the voters decide government is PART of the solution and vote accordingly. |
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Post by artgirl1 on Aug 23, 2020 19:12:14 GMT
They just signed a bill to make protesting/rioting a FELONY with mandatory jail time! Hello Court. It seems like that violates the Constitution, ie freedom of speech. But a Republican would need to read the Constitution to know that. |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Aug 23, 2020 19:25:47 GMT
They just signed a bill to make protesting/rioting a FELONY with mandatory jail time! Hello Court. It seems like that violates the Constitution, ie freedom of speech. But a Republican would need to read the Constitution to know that. Well.... protests that THEY determine are riots.... I didn't read the while thing so I do not know all the details. Was in Nashville, not likely to ever go back there or anywhere....... Although maybe I should check to see if someone down there would honor my Lifetime Pass to the Country Music Hall of Fame signed by Tex Ritter, numbered under 500!! |
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Post by volunteergirl on Aug 23, 2020 19:48:19 GMT
And Lee also committed to providing a year’s supply of cleaning supplies, masks, and other PPE to all teachers. They were supposed to get the packs before they started in person instruction. Our system starts a hybrid schedule tomorrow and my daughter’s school has not gotten them yet.
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