Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SJR0407 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	<BillNo> <Sponsor>
3	3
4	4	SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 407
5	5	By Pody
6	6
7	7
8	8	SJR0407
9	9	006954
10	10	- 1 -
11	11
12	12	A RESOLUTION to recognize and commend Dr. Christopher E.
13	13	Townson for his leadership in the
14	14	telecommunications and broadband industry.
15	15
16	16	WHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of this General Assembly should acknowledge
17	17	and applaud those community leaders who are wholly devoted to enhancing the quality of life
18	18	for their fellow citizens and improving and enriching the place they all call home; and
19	19	WHEREAS, one such individual is Dr. Christopher E. Townson, who has distinguished
20	20	himself as a leader in the telecommunications industry, most notably during his tenure as Chief
21	21	Executive Officer of DTC Communications from May 2016 to January 2025; and
22	22	WHEREAS, with nearly three decades of experience in telecommunications and
23	23	broadband, Dr. Chris Townson has consistently delivered strategic management, innovation,
24	24	and financial stewardship while maintaining a people-first, servant-leadership approach; and
25	25	WHEREAS, under his stewardship, DTC Communications embarked upon and
26	26	completed a transformative $140 million Fiber-to-the-Home initiative, expanding the
27	27	cooperative's service area by more than 300 square miles and achieving full fiber-to-the-
28	28	premises coverage over four years ahead of schedule and under budget; and
29	29	WHEREAS, DTC Communications experienced remarkable growth under Dr. Townson's
30	30	leadership, nearly doubling its annual revenue and increasing its overall valuation by 230
31	31	percent, while also securing over $25 million in grant funding to support broadband expansion;
32	32	and
33	33	WHEREAS, Dr. Chris Townson's experience extends to managing multi-divisional
34	34	corporations and fostering strong relationships with boards of directors, regulatory agencies,
35	35	and industry stakeholders, and he has played a pivotal role in founding and operating an
36	36
37	37
38	38	- 2 - 006954
39	39
40	40	organization dedicated to helping electric cooperatives and municipalities enter the broadband
41	41	space; and
42	42	WHEREAS, a scholar as well as a practitioner, Dr. Townson holds both a Master of
43	43	Business Administration degree and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, underscoring his
44	44	strategic vision and operational expertise; and
45	45	WHEREAS, his contributions to the telecommunications industry include his involvement
46	46	in key industry associations, including NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association and the
47	47	Tennessee Broadband Association, where he has served on various committees and shared his
48	48	insights as a sought-after speaker; and
49	49	WHEREAS, in addition to his many professional achievements, Dr. Chris Townson
50	50	serves faithfully as an elder at The Journey Church in Lebanon, embodying his dedication to
51	51	faith, family, leadership, and community service; and
52	52	WHEREAS, throughout his estimable career, Dr. Townson has demonstrated the utmost
53	53	professionalism, ability, and integrity; now, therefore,
54	54	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH
55	55	GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF
56	56	REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that we honor and commend Dr. Christopher E.
57	57	Townson for his outstanding contributions to the telecommunications industry and the people of
58	58	Tennessee and extend to him our best wishes for success and happiness in all his future
59	59	endeavors.
60	60	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared
61	61	for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
62	62	the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear
63	63	without House or Senate designation.
64	64
65	65
66	66
67	67	- 3 - 006954
68	68
69	69
70	70