Fiber To The Home or EPB vs. Comcast

Josiah,
I think the question is Do we keep the money here, local; or do we send it to Penn. I do not think it is a market vs municipal issue. Cable is a monopoly too.
regards

Heh, if only it were ideal. It'd be one thing if this were a local startup; I'd be all about it, but this seems a bit different.

Agreed that cable is a monopoly.

I wonder if it'd be possible to petition our City Council to get them to put certain provisions in their "allowance" of EPB to get into the broadband game, like they cannot have transfer limits and cannot filter traffic by type, i.e. pro "Net Neutrality".

do you know when the city council will be voting?

I don't think the city should be doing this - as much as I would like to see it happen - unless it opens up the infrastructure to competitors.

Good points, all.

But if Covista, a private firm, has laid some of the infrastructure, then does it lessen the sense of "government getting into the business" if some kind of partnership is formed to use existing fiber? That conversation needs to happen quickly as well.

as an EPB employee, I'd like to address a couple of the issues people are bringing up and would be glad to track down info on those that I am not familiar with.

first comment I'd like make is that we don't want to be "against" Comcast. They are good people and a good company and they are doing the best they can with the infrastructure they have in place. The issue is that their infrastructure is dated and has limited capability.

on the public vs. private issue- we believe that second generation broadband (true broadband) is critical infrastructure for economic development much like electric power availability was back in the 30's. it is government's job to build critical infrastructure if the private sector won't or can't. If there were someone willing to bring fiber to the home and make it available to every home and business in the area, regardless of affluence or density, we would happily drop this and move on. this is going to sound like BS but it is true - we want Chattanooga to have this infrastructure and are not seeing anyone else willing to step up. If that changes and someone else agrees to build it - in a reasonable timeframe, we're just as happy.

City Council vote - next steps in the process include an EPB Board vote (9/21) and then the project goes to City Council. Probably 9/25.

We want to hear what people think. Let us know, let City Council know.

By the way, fair enough about the scroll bars within scroll bars.

Josiah - $399 iPhone. Le sigh.

EPB should build FTTH – it’s the right thing for Chattanooga. It is the right thing for any community in a similar situation.

EPB is looking at bringing to Chattanooga something that does not currently exist in Chattanooga. EPB is looking at creating something in Chattanooga that everyone else in the US wishes they had. Could this be bad?

Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) networks are truly next-generation broadband networks. You can’t compare FTTH networks with current-generation broadband networks (cable modem and DSL). It is like saying “my options to go from Atlanta to LA for business are on a tricycle or in a 777 jumbo jet” – it shouldn’t even be a consideration. If you believe that EPB does not need to build a FTTH network because “broadband currently exists in Chattanooga” then your thinking is flawed. It is a lot like thinking Red Bank High School has a 55 gallon aquarium so there is no need to build a million+ gallon fresh and saltwater aquarium downtown. Much like the aquarium is the heart of the downtown revitalization effort today; FTTH will be the next revitalization catalyst for all of Chattanooga’s economic, academic, and social development going forward.

I currently live in Atlanta but grew up in Chattanooga. I wish I had a beautiful downtown like Chattanooga. I wish I had a family orientated community like Chattanooga. I wish I had the rivers and lakes like Chattanooga. I wish I had the mountains like Chattanooga. I wish I had the river walk like Chattanooga. I wish I had the traffic in Chattanooga. I hope next year I can wish I had FTTH like the good folks in Chattanooga. I hope the City Council gives me one more reason to wish I still lived in Chattanooga.

chiming in again on Fiber to the Home in response to Leonard's comments. Come back to Chattanooga Leonard! This infrastructure will be something that allows people like you and me to live in Chattanooga where we want to be but have access to larger city business opportunities.

And Josiah, I've not forgotten about your valid and important questions. Stay tuned.

And if anyone else is interested in EPB building this, the cable association is doing some work with the City Council and providing them with information that is contrary to what we believe it true (that's my nice way of saying it). Make sure your City Council person knows where you stand on Fiber to the Home. Whether you support the idea or oppose it, City Council is getting some conflicting information. Voter comments can help them feel confident with whatever their decision.

can you provide outline of the total service package to residential customer that you would like to offer,whether it is all approved or not.
Can you provide info how the $200 M will be provided,generally.
Will EPB customers have opportunity to invest in bonds or other forms of investment to help finance this effort and to vote by investing in the venture?
I am interested in short term investments (3 to 5year)as well as longer.

I just stumbled on this doing a google search (I'm in Atlanta...and very jealous I must say). My parents are in Chattanooga though, and they are thrilled (as will I be when I visit)! I want to respond to your "free market assessment" here. Cable and Teleco are not pure free market entities, as both (more so telecom) received substantial government subsidies to build out their networks and beneficial goverment regulation to freeze out competition. I think its becoming clear that broadband IS a utility, and other countries that have taken that approach are far ahead of the US in BB penetration and speed with lower prices, but that is a different ball game. I just wanted to comment on the "free market" aspect. Well done Chattanooga!!! (think you could talk to GA Power about doing the same in Atlanta)?