Tennessee Utilities' Fiber Boosts Business Growth, Electric Reliability
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EPB
As traditional providers fall short on delivering high-speed broadband in smaller towns, several of Tennessee’s electric utilities are stepping into the broadband game.
EPB, Bristol Tennessee Essential Services and CDE Lightband found their fiber networks are helping drive business growth and improve electric reliability.
When EPB devised its fiber plan it considered three main points: take rate, electric system impact and the impact to the Chattanooga community.
Since launching its fiber network in 2009, EPB surpassed its initial 30,000 customer mark. It now serves more than 117,000 customers.
Before EPB launched the service in 2009, EPB asked the chair of finance at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to build an economic model of how the fiber would affect the community. A new study by the university revealed that Chattanooga gained a $2.69 billion in community benefit during the first 10 years from the fiber network.