Connecting the Portland community
Cumberland Connect, the broadband subsidiary of Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, is making great strides in connecting their community through a new public Wi-Fi location.
“This investment in public Wi-Fi represents an important step toward greater digital inclusion in our community,” said Chris A. Davis, CEMC’s general manager. “Reliable internet access is essential for residents, visitors and businesses alike, and we are grateful for the collaboration that made this project possible.”
On Wednesday, Oct. 8, Cumberland Connect joined the City of Portland and the Sumner County Government in unveiling free public Wi-Fi at Meadowbrook Park. Community members, local leaders and project partners gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and viewed a live demonstration of the new Wi-Fi service.
“We celebrate CEMC – and other electric cooperatives like it – that continue to find new and innovative ways to ensure their communities are connected,” said Paige Shapiro, the director of strategy and broadband support at the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “Cumberland Connect and its partners aren’t just providing free Wi-Fi, they are providing a gateway to education, opportunity and economic development.”
This project was funded through the Broadband Ready Communities grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development. The initiative provides secure, reliable Wi-Fi coverage across Meadowbrook Park and the Main Street corridor. The purpose of the project is to enhance community connectivity, support economic development and provide residents and visitors with improved access to essential online resources.
On top of expanding internet access, the project also includes a digital literacy training initiative for residents of Portland. Sumner County will provide resources and instruction to help the community develop the digital skills needed to thrive. This was made possible through a partnership with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology.
