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Chattanooga will be lightyears ahead when it comes to fiber optics. A plan five years in the making is about to pay off. EPB Chairman of the Board Joe Ferguson explains: "When we're through here, we'll be the largest city in this country to have 100% fiber optics service." Chattanooga, East Ridge and Red Bank will be completely fiber optics ready by June 1st, 2010. That's 100,000 homes and businesses that can sign up for the new "Fi-Speed Internet," "Fi-Phone" and "Fi-TV." EPB showed off the new picture-in-picture on-air guide at the unveiling. "I'm a Fioneer and whenever that ends I will be an EPB Fi-Speed Internet and Fi-TV customer," Scott Wilson said Tuesday. The so called "Fioneers" like Wilson are beta-testing the new products in areas like Atlon Park, Highland Park and North Chattanooga. Wilson says he's most impressed with the bandwidth of the new fiber optic internet service. "It's comparing a garden hose to a river of water. It's huge." Ferguson says this increased internet capability will be a huge boon for businesses. He thinks the plan for a 100% fiber optics network may have helped net Volkswagen. "One of the senior staffers of Volkswagen is in Germany today," said Ferguson. "He and I have been batting emails back and forth and they're really excited about it and it's going to mean a lot to them." EPB wouldn't put a price on the new fiber optics services yet. "We'll come into the market at what people are used to paying, or maybe a little less," said EPB's Vice President of Fiber Optics Katie Espeseth. "Because we're a public entity or municipal utility," Espeseth added, "we're not really beholden to our stockholders so we can offer more value for the money." 1,000 miles of fiber is already down across the city.
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