Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Committee hosts forum on high-speed broadband in Bradley County
Cleveland, TN (WDEF) – Getting broadband to all Bradley County residents was the hot topic in Cleveland Friday morning.
The Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs committee held an informational forum.
Realtor Taylor Phillips explained, "Everybody wants internet, and they want the best internet if they can get it."
The main topic of discussion at Friday morning’s informational forum on high-speed broadband is whether or not municipal utilities like E-P-B can cover customers outside of their electric system footprint.
Harold DePriest serves as the President & CEO of EPB. He explained, "Those electric system footprints were created back in the 30s, they don’t quite make sense today."
Representative Dan Howell (R-Distrcit 22) co-sponsored legislation that would change that rule.
Howell said, "The bill actually was tabled last year. There was a big lobbying effort by many of the large, well-funded tele-comms and their lobbyists, to kill the bill, but there is a lot of grassroots support for this bill, and we knew that."
Howell expects the bill to be discussed again and possibly voted on as early as January. And if it passes, the experts say the sky’s the limit.
Howell added, "Broadband has become one of the most important aspects for economic development."
Phillips echoed the sentiment. He said, "We have multiple articles backing this fact up, and it’s been studied nationally, that having broadband available to your house, it’s a 3 to 5 percent increase in home value."
The Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs committee held an informational forum.
Realtor Taylor Phillips explained, "Everybody wants internet, and they want the best internet if they can get it."
The main topic of discussion at Friday morning’s informational forum on high-speed broadband is whether or not municipal utilities like E-P-B can cover customers outside of their electric system footprint.
Harold DePriest serves as the President & CEO of EPB. He explained, "Those electric system footprints were created back in the 30s, they don’t quite make sense today."
Representative Dan Howell (R-Distrcit 22) co-sponsored legislation that would change that rule.
Howell said, "The bill actually was tabled last year. There was a big lobbying effort by many of the large, well-funded tele-comms and their lobbyists, to kill the bill, but there is a lot of grassroots support for this bill, and we knew that."
Howell expects the bill to be discussed again and possibly voted on as early as January. And if it passes, the experts say the sky’s the limit.
Howell added, "Broadband has become one of the most important aspects for economic development."
Phillips echoed the sentiment. He said, "We have multiple articles backing this fact up, and it’s been studied nationally, that having broadband available to your house, it’s a 3 to 5 percent increase in home value."
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