EPB Lays Out Plans To Provide A TN County With High-Speed Internet, TV Service, Cost Is Up to $60 Million

In what was hailed as a big win for rural Bradley Countians, officials of Chattanooga's (TN) electricity distribution and telecommunications company EPB laid out a plan to reach the community with currently unavailable high-speed internet. EPB CEO Harold DePrist said that the expansion would serve roughly 1,000 people, about 800 of whom have no current option other than dial-up. The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 on Feb 26 to overrule Tennessee law and allow EPB to expand its fiber optic service. Now, EPB is waiting on the exact wording of the ruling prior to seeking to work out legal and technical issues.

However, EPB is still restricted and unable to serve outside its elected service area due to current state laws in place, Mr. DePriest said. EPB will offer fiber optic service to the county if current legislation, Senate Bill 1134 or House Bill 1303, pass and allow any Internet provider to serve anyone in the state of Tennessee, he stated. If the legislation is passed, EPB will move quickly. In four months, EPB would be able to start construction on the project. The eventual goal of EPB is to provide for all of Bradley County. For comparison, EPB covered 600 square miles with the fiber optic cables in two and half years in Hamilton County. Mr. DePriest said EPB will not use taxpayer money. The project will cost $50 million-$60 million to cover the county and EPB will have to “raise some money,” he said.