EPB Gets Green Light From FCC to Offer Broadband to Nearby Communities
The city-owned utility had filed its request last summer.
JOE FERGUSON, BOARD CHAIRMAN, EPB "They have agreed that those barriers should come down…that we should be able to deal with individuals and communities that adjoin our territory..and take out broadband service out to them."
EPB officials are delighted that they can offer the gigabit service to nearby neighbors. The FCC ruling overrides a Tennessee state law that was designed to keep internet providers from pushing out an existing provider.
MAYOR ANDY BERKE, CHATTANOOGA "I’m proud that our community and EPB decided to do that…and apply to the FCC because that’s not an easy move and it doesn’t come without controversy."
Other providers like AT and T and Comcast objected–saying that EPB, as a city owned utility already gets tax breaks. The decision may be appealed.
Those requests to the FCC came from citizens in those areas without high speed internet, like southwest Bradley county.
JOYCE COLTRANE, BRADLEY CO., BUSINESS OWNER "For us internet is a critical utility need. Among the 160 households I represent our lack of broadband service creates many challenges for those who run a business..who need to work from home..and have children and grandchildren."
DAVID WADE, COO, EPB "We hope there’s no opposition..our local control is really …its exciting to think that the folks that are wanting service ..could request service and be given that opportunity."
MAYOR JIM COPPINGER, HAMILTON COUNTY "With the fast changing world that we live in, people even receive things such as health care,,studies, jobs they have things where they work from home this internet is very critical to them" .
EPB says it will only service areas that request the broadband service–and only then if it is profitable for the company.
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