Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-6-325

There is exempt from this chapter all sales of tangible personal property to telephone cooperatives organized under the general welfare laws of this state. This exemption shall apply only to sales of tangible personal property to telephone cooperatives for their own use and consumption, and shall not apply to any purchases made by the telephone cooperatives for use by independent contractors. This section shall apply only so long as electric membership corporations organized under the Rural Electric and Community Services Cooperative Act, compiled in title 65, chapter 25 shall be entitled to an exemption from the payment of any sales and use tax.