Story by Matt Martini
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee State Senator Dr. Mark Green (R-Clarksville) today said he will “do all I can” to secure passage of his legislation to allow the Clarksville Department of Electricity to provide broadband internet service to the new Clarksville-Montgomery Industrial Park.
The CDE is legally prohibited from delivering broadband service to the new industrial park since it is located outside the corporate limits of the City of Clarksville, but industrial development experts say a redundant internet service is needed at the new facility.
“A redundant internet provider offering fiber optic technology will be a definite incentive for businesses to locate in the Clarksville-Montgomery Industrial Park,” Dr. Green said.
His legislation (Senate Bill 2005), which he recently introduced, would create a special exemption that will permit CDE to provide fiber optic lines to the facility, a position supported by the Clarksville City Council.
In a speech today at the Nashville Doubletree Hotel to the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, Dr. Green called the restriction “an artificial barrier that hurts growth,” and pledged to “do all I can to change it.”
“No company can long survive in this economy without sound, reliable internet service, and this plan would allow CDE to provide redundant service,” Dr. Green said.