State of Tennessee Archives: on Technology
Bill Lee:
One-time investment of $200 million in broadband expansion
I have proposed record investments in broadband since becoming Governor, and I am grateful for the legislature's support on this issue. But I am ready for us to solve this issue once and for all. A significant, one-time investment, combined
with significant private investment, will get broadband to just about every community in Tennessee. To help us achieve our goal of every Tennessean having access to high speed broadband, my budget recommends an investment of 200 million dollars.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Tennessee legislature
Feb 8, 2021
Bill Hagerty:
Work with both parties to close digital divide in Tennessee
With more and more Americans choosing to make Tennessee their home, we must ensure our infrastructure system keeps up. 21st Century infrastructure isn't limited to our roadways, it also includes reliable internet access.
Bill will work with members of both parties to close the digital divide and ensure that all Tennesseans have access to reliable internet.
Source: 2020 Tennessee Senate campaign website TeamHagerty.com
Dec 24, 2019
Karl Dean:
Increase gas tax to fund local transportation infrastructure
Q: Position on Tennessee taxes?Karl Dean (D): Would allow counties to increase gas tax to fund local transportation infrastructure.
Bill Lee (R): Recruiting new businesses while "growing
Tennessee businesses of all sizes. requires reducing the tax & regulatory burden for everyone."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Tennessee Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Marsha Blackburn:
Opposes Net Neutrality; it's government-controlled internet
Q: Net Neutrality: Require internet providers to provide equal access to all?Marsha Blackburn (R): No. "Tennesseans do not want government-controlled internet."
Phil Bredesen (D): Yes. "Should guarantee equal access for everyone."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Tennessee Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Phil Bredesen:
Empower TVA to bring rural broadband internet access
Q: Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?Marsha Blackburn (R): Likely no. Has supported across-the-board federal spending cuts.
Phil Bredesen (D): Yes. Empower TVA to help bring rural broadband internet access "just as the
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Tennessee Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Phil Bredesen:
Supports Net Neutrality: equal access for everyone
Q: Net Neutrality: Require internet providers to provide equal access to all?Marsha Blackburn (R): No. "Tennesseans do not want government-controlled internet."
Phil Bredesen (D): Yes. "Should guarantee equal access for everyone."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Tennessee Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Bill Lee:
Infrastructure needs repairs, stop kicking can down the road
Investing in infrastructure is clearly a need, and it needs to be addressed more quickly. I run a company with hundreds of vehicles, and our company is in the business of maintaining the infrastructure of buildings.
Deferring maintenance is a costly, critical mistake. The same obviously applies to government. Neglecting infrastructure ensures more expensive and more painful solutions when we finally do get around to addressing them."
Source: The Tennessean on 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial race
Aug 2, 2018
Larry Crim:
Our interstates and highways need our tax dollars now
The federal interstates and highways in Tennessee and across the nation need repair and expansion to catch up with decades of increased vehicle volume, prepare for the future transportation needs of
Americans, companies, drivers, emergency personnel, military and create jobs. Federal highways, interstates and infrastructure are national issues requiring a federal response.
Source: 2018 Tennessee Senate campaign website LarryCrimUSSenate.com
Feb 28, 2018
Larry Crim:
Our interstates and highways need our tax dollars now
The federal interstates and highways in Tennessee and across the nation need repair and expansion to catch up with decades of increased vehicle volume, prepare for the future transportation needs of
Americans, companies, drivers, emergency personnel, military and create jobs. Federal highways, interstates and infrastructure are national issues requiring a federal response.
Source: 2018 Tennessee Senate campaign website LarryCrimUSSenate.com
Feb 28, 2018
Bill Haslam:
Tools to be successful: good roads and broadband access
The Tennessee we can be provides the tools to be successful. Good roads that take you to good jobs. Broadband access to conduct and grow your business anywhere in Tennessee at the speed of the 21st century. A high quality education system that educates
all. We can do that in Tennessee. Because of the fiscal responsibility we have shown, the Tennessee we can be is a state with a safe and reliable transportation network that supports long-term growth, and one of the best K-12 systems in the country.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Tennessee Legislature
Jan 30, 2017
Gordon Ball:
We send too little on infrastructure
We must upgrade our aging transportation system. This is how we get manufactured goods to market. China spends 9% of its GDP on infrastructure, and Europe spends about 5% of its GDP. The U.S. spends 2.4% and is looking for cuts.
We can't build a competitive future by trailing China and Europe. Improvements are needed right now.
Investing in our infrastructure creates jobs and ensures safer roads, railways, and bridges; and upgrades to water, sewer, and broadband systems. It means expanding commerce across Tennessee and creating new jobs in our communities.
I will work to ensure Tennessee receives targeted federal investments that improve our state's infrastructure and strengthen Tennessee's economy.
Source: 2014 Tennessee Senate campaign website, GordonBallSenate.com
Aug 7, 2014
Joe Carr:
Cell phone ban should be addressed by airlines, not feds
Alexander introduced the "Commercial Flight Courtesy Act," a bill that would prohibit cell phone conversations. Alexander announced the legislation today ahead of the Federal Communications Commission's 3-2 vote yesterday, advancing a proposed rule that
would allow passengers to do just that.Ever since the beginning of the Device Era, we've been forced to turn off our phones and tablets on airplanes. If you asked most people why this was necessary, they'd tell you smartly that the signal from your
phone or device could interfere with the plane's instrument. They were wrong, said the FAA and now the FCC.
We asked Carr's campaign where the challenger stood on the issue. They sent over this statement from Carr: "I, like most everyone I know, do not
want to sit on a flight next to someone talking on cell phone. But before we pass new regulations, I think we should wait and see if the airlines can solve this issue on their own. If they can't solve the problem, the government can step in."
Source: Nashville Scene, "Cell Phones" on 2014 Tennessee Senate race
Dec 13, 2013
Lamar Alexander:
No cell phone conversations on planes; email and texting ok
Alexander feels strongly that we should not be allowed to make phone calls on planes. The Republican has teamed up with Diane Feinstein (D-CA) on the "Commercial Flight Courtesy Act," a bill that would prohibit cell phone conversations on commercial
airline flights. Alexander announced the legislation today ahead of the Federal Communications Commission's proposed rule change that would allow passengers to do just that."Keeping phone conversations private on commercial flights may not be
enshrined in the Constitution, but it is certainly enshrined in common sense," Alexander says. "This legislation is about avoiding something nobody wants: nearly 2 million passengers a day, hurtling through space, trapped in 17-inch-wide seats, yapping
their innermost thoughts. When you stop and think about what we hear now in airport lobbies, it's not hard to see why the FCC shouldn't allow cell phone conversations on airplanes," he says. "The solution is simple: text messages, yes; conversations, no.
Source: Nashville Scene, "Cell Phones" on 2014 Tennessee Senate race
Dec 13, 2013
Phil Bredesen:
Memphis Research Consortium: life science research center
The University of Memphis has been working for some time now to put together a coalition of life sciences organizations to work with the University to help grow its standing as a research institution. The General Assembly's approval of the UT Energy
Campus at Oak Ridge has brought a long-simmering effort to a boil.In the past week, 9 organizations, including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Univ. of Tennessee Health Sciences Center [have signed on to] this Memphis Research Consortium
Source: Tennessee 2010 State of the State Address
Feb 1, 2010
Don Sundquist:
Wire government plus libraries and schools
We’ve taken government online and made it easier to access services and locate information. We were the first state to connect every public school and library to the Internet.
The number of computers in our classrooms has gone from 6,000 to over 150,000 in just four years.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Tennessee legislature
Jan 29, 2001
Page last updated: Oct 14, 2021