The following summary has been condensed for length and readability. To listen to the full discussion, click here. This episode is sponsored by intelegrate and VETRO FiberMap.
Municipal broadband has become a very popular topic in the telecommunications industry, but few organizations have demonstrated its potential as successfully as EPB Chattanooga. What began as an effort to modernize an electric grid and improve service reliability evolved into one of the most recognized broadband success stories in the United States.
In a recent episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Pete Pizzutillo sat down with Katie Espeseth, Vice President of New Products at EPB, to discuss the utility’s broadband journey, the role fiber infrastructure has played in transforming Chattanooga, and what other communities can learn from their experience.
Many broadband deployments begin with the objective of delivering internet access. EPB approached the challenge differently.
According to Espeseth, the organization’s mission has always centered on economic development and improving quality of life for residents. As Chattanooga entered the twenty-first century, EPB recognized that reliable electric service and high-speed broadband were becoming essential infrastructure for attracting businesses, supporting education, and creating opportunities throughout the community.
Fiber optics emerged as the technology that could support both objectives. The same network that would improve electric system operations could also provide world-class broadband connectivity to homes and businesses.
This dual-purpose strategy became the foundation for everything that followed.
EPB originally planned a ten-year broadband buildout. The strategy involved gradually expanding service, generating revenue from subscribers, and reinvesting those funds into future construction.
A major turning point occurred when EPB received a Smart Grid Investment Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The grant accelerated construction of the fiber network that supported both smart grid modernization and broadband services.
Instead of taking ten years to complete the build, EPB condensed much of the deployment into just over two years. The accelerated timeline allowed the utility to reach more homes and businesses faster while generating broadband revenue sooner than expected.
Customer adoption also exceeded projections. EPB initially expected approximately 30 percent of households to subscribe. In many areas, adoption rates reached 40 percent and even 50 percent, helping validate the business model and support continued investment.
While funding assistance helped speed deployment, Espeseth emphasized that success came from creating value rather than competing solely on price.
EPB focused on:
The fiber network also delivered benefits beyond broadband access. It improved outage management, enhanced storm response capabilities, optimized electric load management, and reduced operational costs across the utility.
Rather than treating broadband and electric operations as separate initiatives, EPB integrated them into a single infrastructure strategy.
One of the greatest advantages of fiber infrastructure is longevity.
While electronics continue to evolve, the fiber itself remains a durable long-term asset. EPB launched with GPON technology and has steadily upgraded its network over time.
Today, customers throughout its service area can access symmetrical 25 gigabit services.
Espeseth noted that one lesson learned was being too cautious in the early years. Looking back, she believes EPB could have introduced more advanced services sooner because the fiber platform proved capable of supporting significantly greater capacity than originally anticipated.
Customer expectations have changed dramatically since EPB launched broadband service.
Early broadband adoption focused heavily on speed. Modern consumers expect much more.
Today’s households depend on dozens of connected devices for streaming, remote work, online learning, gaming, security systems, and smart home applications.
As a result, broadband providers must focus on:
The customer experience inside the home has become just as important as the speed delivered to the home.
EPB evaluates success differently than many broadband providers.
The organization partnered with Dr. Bento Lobo from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to study the economic impact of the network.
The results are impressive.
Between 2011 and 2025, EPB’s fiber network generated more than $5 billion in economic benefits and helped create or support more than 10,000 jobs throughout the Chattanooga region.
Those outcomes demonstrate how broadband infrastructure can influence economic development, business attraction, workforce growth, and quality of life.
EPB continues to build on its fiber foundation.
One of its latest initiatives involves quantum networking. The utility has developed a quantum network testbed designed to help researchers and technology companies experiment with emerging applications that require ultra-secure communications and advanced computing capabilities.
The goal mirrors the original broadband strategy: create advanced infrastructure and allow innovators to build on top of it.
This approach positions Chattanooga as a technology leader while continuing to attract investment and innovation.
EPB also remains focused on broadband accessibility.
Through its EdConnect program, qualifying households with K-12 students receive free internet and Wi-Fi service. The program is supported through partnerships with schools, local governments, foundations, and community organizations.
The initiative reflects EPB’s belief that broadband access should be available to every family regardless of income level.
Utilities and communities considering broadband investments can learn several important lessons from Chattanooga’s experience:
EPB built its fiber network to modernize its electric grid, improve reliability, support economic development, and provide high-speed broadband access throughout Chattanooga.
The network has become one of the most successful municipal broadband projects in the United States, generating more than $5 billion in economic benefits and supporting more than 10,000 jobs.
EPB currently offers symmetrical internet services up to 25 gigabits per second across its service area.
The network was designed to support both smart grid operations and broadband services. This dual-purpose approach created operational efficiencies while delivering significant community benefits.
Through the EdConnect program, EPB provides free internet access and Wi-Fi service to qualifying households with K-12 students in Hamilton County.
EPB Chattanooga remains one of the most influential examples of how municipal broadband can transform a community. The organization’s success demonstrates that fiber infrastructure can deliver far more than internet access. When paired with a clear mission and long-term vision, broadband becomes a catalyst for economic development, innovation, education, and community growth.
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