Chattanooga Fiber Optic Update - Suit dismissed in chancery court

I have written a couple times in support of EPB's plans to bring fiber optic cable to Chattanooga. It will certainly help business development and promote area growth in general. I truly believe that it will have an impact on the prospects of Chattanooga being selected for the home of the Volkwagen plant.

image of fiber optic cable

Today it has been reported by the Chattanooga Times Free Press that the most recent suit to stop plans for fiber optic cable has been dismissed. This follows fairly close in time the previous dismissal in Davidson County of a similar suit by the Tennessee Cable Telecommunications Association. Additionally another court decision did not allow the Davidson suit to be reinstated.

The report indicated that it is not clear if this last decision will be accepted by Comcast and the cable association, or whether they will file another suit. My  hope is that the lawsuits have ended and the area can begin in earnest to anticipate the benefits of the universal availability of fiber optic cable.

EPB had already moved in anticipation of this decision to obtain necessary financing in the form of a $26 million loan from electric system revenue to launch fiber to the home. This network is reported to be nation's largest municipal telecommunications service.

Information about the EPB fiber to the home project is available on their website here. Watch the video.

Here is a biased YouTube video about Fiber to the Home. While it is biased, it does offer some interviews and other sources that indicate wide interest in support of the investment in fiber optic infrastrucure.

Fiber optics will provide opportunities in our area in ways that cannot be imagined now.

image of old style telephone

I cannot imagine passing on this investment in our future. Fiber optic is the new essential infrastructure and its addition will add to the national prominence that Chattanooga is now enjoying.

Richard


Richard Smith
Home financing in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.
Experience matters when it is your home loan.

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TAGS: fiber optics, economic growth, epb, ftth, fiber to the home, chattanooga, hamilton county

EPB fiber optics presentation to WCR

Thoughts on Real Estate Finance

EPB Fiber to the Home May 7th, 2008 5:00 PM

At the regular luncheon for Women's Council of Realtors Chattanooga (WCR), Candace Bell from the Electric Power Board spoke concerning the proposals to bring fiber optic cable to the residences and businesses in the Chattanooga area.

There are several opponents of this proposal, but it seems obvious to me that it is an essential step in the continuing growth of the Chattanooga economy.

Ms Bell mentioned that one of the stated reasons that Chattanooga lost in the bid to acquire the Toyota plant was the lack of high speed broad band internet capability.

This fiber optic infrastructure promises affordable access to the new generation of high speed internet access. The connection speed is up to 50 times that of DSL or T1. A 20 mg download with fiber optic is almost insstantaneous compared to standard cable time of 10 or so sceconds.

The EPB site for information about fiber to the home is http://www01.epb.net/fiber/ . The site has a frequent questions page as well as links to communicate your own questions to the proper EPB resource.

The site has an excellent video that explains the benefits, the economic impact, and details for the proposals for this essential and powerful infrastructure investment.

The plan for implementation is to begin from the main node downtown, and to proceed by stages outward from there.

The plan will bring fiber optic capability to every business and every home with 5 years. Within 3 years, 80% of the EPB service area will have access.

This is a tremendous opportunity for a better Chattanoogs. It promises high speed internet, more choice for TV and phone, and untold business and work opportunity.

The members of WCR that attended were all impressed with the plan, and excited for it to be started. WCR is part of a national organization designed to develop leadership and business skills for women realtors. Information about the Chattanooga branch of WCR can be found at http://www.wcrchattanooga.org/

 

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TAGS: chattanooga real estate, epb, fiber optics, womens council of realtors