The following transcript has been edited for length and readability. Listen to the entire discussion here on The Broadband Bunch. The Broadband Bunch is sponsored by ETI Software and VETRO FiberMap.
Joe Coldebella:
This episode of The Broadband Bunch is sponsored by ETI software and VETRO FiberMap.
Hello and welcome to another episode of The Broadband Bunch. I’m Joe Coldebella, and we are at Fiber Connect 2023 in Orlando, Florida. Joining me is next year’s chair for Fiber Connect 2024, Evann Freeman. Evann, welcome to The Broadband Bunch.
Evann Freeman:
Joe, thank you so much for having me, and I am excited to be here at Fiber Connect.
Joe Coldebella:
Yeah, it’s been a phenomenal event. Before we talk a little bit about the event and a little bit about next year, we’d love it if you could sort of share with our audience a little bit about yourself as you’re going to be front and center next year. And I’m sure they want to know a little bit about you.
Evann Freeman:
Yeah, so I’m currently director of government relations for EPB in Chattanooga, and I’ve been there for about four years. I started just before COVID hit, which was the worst time in the world. So I always say that the first year doesn’t count because it was a COVID year.
Joe Coldebella:
Absolutely.
Evann Freeman:
But I have been loving the opportunity there. Before that, I worked for US Senator Lamar Alexander. I was in his office for about 11 years. And before that, I played around in the hotel industry for a little bit and thought I was going that route. And ultimately, my dream job was to be an NFL coach to go coach the Dallas Cowboys and get them a Super Bowl, which it seems will never be a reality.
Joe Coldebella:
Hey, listen, I’m an Arizona Cardinal fan, and so as bad as it is for you, just think how bad it is for me.
Evann Freeman:
That’s true. Kyler Murray was supposed to be the person, but yeah, we’ll see.
Joe Coldebella:
Yeah. I mean I’m getting a little emotional here. It’s one of those things where it’s definitely rough for me to talk about. But I would love it if we just talked a little bit about EPB. I really think it’s one of the North Stars of the broadband world. And just curious, it’s a public entity, but you guys are always on the cutting edge in everything you do. What’s the secret sauce that you guys have?
Evann Freeman:
Yeah, I think just to back up a second. We’re a municipally owned utility and got into the fiber business about 2009. At that time, we had a gig service to the home and was the first in the nation with that. And fast-forward to today, we have 25 gigs community-wide, which is pretty significant and impressive. But I think the secret sauce, so to speak, would just be the focus on our community and making our community better, and building those coalitions in the community and getting their support.
Joe Coldebella:
It really is true. And one of the great things that you guys did when COVID hit was you went front and center and said, “We have got to make sure that everyone that needs access has access.” Would love it if you could talk a little bit about that.
Evann Freeman:
Sure. At the onset of COVID, our CEO, David Wade, was contacted by our school superintendent, who said, “We’re sending all these students home. They have devices, but the teachers are saying students aren’t showing up to class.” And he figured out one of the reasons was that there was a lack of connectivity and internet access. So they had some discussions about possible solutions. And something we did really fast and short-term was throw up hotspots in church parking lots and community centers and things like that where folks can get to. But we really wanted to address a long-term solution and not just do something for this pandemic. We didn’t really know how long the pandemic was going to go on, so there’s a lot of uncertainty there.
But from the jump, our city mayor, Mayor Andy Berke, got involved. And really, we convened a group at EPB of community stakeholders and immediately started having conversations about what could be a long-term solution. We’re trying to figure out how many students don’t have connectivity and how to reach those particular families. And there’s all this data and somebody said, “Well, what if we just covered every student on free and reduced lunch?”
That was a big idea, but it was a bold idea. And because we had all the stakeholders at the table, we were able to raise the money and come together as a community to solve that. So, today, we just started year three. The school year just started. And we have about 17,000 students connected, and if you include their families at home, that’s about 28,000 folks, and they’re benefiting from that right now.
Joe Coldebella:
That’s awesome. The great thing about the internet is the opportunity that it gives everybody. And sometimes a kid isn’t really motivated. But then, for whatever reason, he finds a particular subject, or she finds a thing that gets her super excited, and then they’re off to the races. So I really have to commend the City of Chattanooga, you folks, for really doing something that’s extraordinary.
Evann Freeman:
Yeah, it was a great partnership. And then, we have some foundations and others that got involved. The county and the school system all came to the table and threw money there.
Joe Coldebella:
I’m curious, will there be any type of just study in terms of scores or folks being more engaged? Is that something that’s on the table?
Evann Freeman:
Yeah, and I’m glad you brought that up. Boston College, along with The Enterprise Center, Deb Socia, and Jeff Milliner over there-
Joe Coldebella:
I love Deb. She’s great.
Evann Freeman:
Yeah, she’s awesome. She has been very helpful. They’ve been working with Boston College and the University of Tennessee Chattanooga to see how this is impacting families. So they’ve been surveying families, making phone calls, and doing in-person interviews. And really, what we’re finding just on some of the numbers early on is the parent engagement, if you take the socioeconomic groups. Parents are usually working two jobs, and their students are at home. So they really don’t have time to go to the classroom and be involved that way physically. But since they have digital access, they’re very involved in the coursework with their students and go and log on to the different apps that the school has and really have that teacher-parent engagement. So that’s been a great equalizer that we’ve found so far.
Joe Coldebella:
That’s great. And is it also one of those things where it helps with family adoption? Sometimes folks miss the internet train, and maybe it’s an opportunity for them to learn as other folks in their family do.
Evann Freeman:
Yeah, it has. It’s impacted the whole family, and it’s been used for workforce development, job applications, being able to go to school online and complete a degree, and something that really was out of reach for families and stuff they couldn’t think about. Telehealth is another thing that we’re finding that’s been used a lot. One story that was out there that I’ve heard before from a family was that they’re thinking about their health. And they’re online looking for family recipes to cook healthier food at home. So just thinking about the quality-of-life aspect and the entertainment options that are available, the job options that are available. And for the first time, they have access to the whole world because they have devices and connectivity.
Joe Coldebella:
I love it, especially the telehealth. When COVID hit initially, telehealth became a super big buzzword. But now, as we’ve returned to some sort of normalcy, there’s definitely been a little bit of the touching of the brakes and fewer people are utilizing it. And hopefully, it will find its niche, and then there’ll be a balance. Folks love to see their doctor. When they can visit them, they can. But it’s also a chance for preventative medicine as well. So, if they’re not feeling well but don’t want to go to the doctor because they don’t think it’s a big deal, they can reach out through telemedicine. And hopefully, if there is a problem and the doctor or nurse practitioner says, “Hey, you need to come in,” it’s more preventative than someone reacting to something when something bad happens.
Evann Freeman:
No, I agree. And I was talking to one of our local hospitals. They’ve been getting involved in the community, and they’re offering free telehealth appointments for a certain project. They’re kind of doing a pilot. But it’s been really interesting to see how that is reducing emergency room visits when you don’t have to go because you can contact somebody.
Joe Coldebella:
Great point.
Evann Freeman:
So, it’s going to be a big cost saving, I think, for the industry.
Joe Coldebella:
That’s such a good point. I was just talking with Kevin Morgan yesterday. The changes in internet access are subtle, but the connectivity makes our lives just a little bit simpler, a little bit easier. It is kind of remarkable how it’s happening before our eyes. Just think back 10 years, how much different a world we live in.
Evann Freeman:
Yeah, it’s very true. Technology is adapting really fast. Just thinking back before cell phones, if the family was at the mall and we didn’t have a meeting place, we would have to just wait by the payphones and try to reach out to somebody. And it was a whole different world, but just cell phones have revolutionized. And now, everything needs to be online and have a fourth utility and stuff. But you brought up 10 years. Dr. Bento Lobo, who’s an economics professor at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, did a 10-year look back story to see what the economic impact was of our fiber. It found that there’s a $2.7 billion economic value, and then you can tie about 9,500 jobs directly to our fiber infrastructure. And so, it’s transformed Chattanooga and our community. And we want to continue to be at the forefront of that.
Joe Coldebella:
From an anecdotal point of view, I have a really good friend who is a creative director in the field of advertising. He lives in New York City. And I want to say about seven years ago, he goes, “Hey, listen, I’m moving to Chattanooga.” And I said to him, “What? Why are you going to Chattanooga?” Usually, in advertising, it’s New York City, Boston, Chicago, and LA, the usual suspects. And he goes, “Listen, what Chattanooga is doing is incredible. They are really transforming their city into an incredible digital opportunity.” And he went down there with this company, he was there for, I think, six years. He had a great time. You guys are really at the forefront.
Evann Freeman:
Yeah, and that is just one example of what putting that fiber infrastructure in your community can do. And having that fiber infrastructure was the backbone of the EdConnect program that I talked about. And it was an asset that the community took off with. I think when we first installed it and put it in, the question was always, “Well, what do you need a gig for?” And that question wasn’t answered, and it wasn’t defined. But we knew it was something that was going to be potentially big for our community, and let our community come and define what that was.
Joe Coldebella:
Well, the great thing about it is just walking the halls and listening to people and talking to people. Just through the last few years, I have heard, “Oh, I’m never going to need a gig. Oh, I’m never going to need 10 gigs.” The beast is going to be fed regardless. It’s just one of those things that’s going to happen.
Evann Freeman:
Yeah, and technology’s moving so fast. I mean, you think of streaming, autonomous vehicles, all the things that are changing, and all the industries that are changing with technology. Everything’s going to require broadband access.
Joe Coldebella:
Yeah, it is really an incredible time. If we could shift pages a little bit, obviously you’re super busy at EPB, but you decided to pile on a little bit more. So, you decided to become the chair for 2024. Can you share how that process happened? And you must be super excited.
Evann Freeman:
Yeah, I’m really excited to be the chair of the conference committee for 2024. I am looking forward to building on the success of others who have been doing this before me, like JJ, and working with Gary to really advance the fiber broadband vision. Katie Espeseth, on our team, who has been around FBA for a long time and has done a tremendous amount in the fiber industry and has really paved the way to where this organization is now. So she got me involved, and we’ve really been passing ideas and thinking about how we can really continue to advance this industry.
Joe Coldebella:
So this year the event is in Orlando. And if I may quote Chief Brody from Jaws, “I think you guys are going to need a bigger boat.” Because this year there are tons and tons of folks, and I’m sure it’s only going to get bigger in the next few years. Where are you going to be hosting next year’s event?
Evann Freeman:
Next year’s event will be in Nashville. So it’ll be back in Nashville at the Gaylord. And we are really excited about the growth and the potential this year in Orlando. Over 4,000 folks are here. And I think it’s just a true testament to the valuable content that FBA provides. It is an opportunity for folks to network and really build from. I think it’s an exciting time for our industry with all the federal focus on it and with the amount of money that’s coming down, and states are engaged. So really FBA is the center point in the organization where you can come and you can hear your leadership at the government level. You can hear leadership in the industry, and you can get a peek into what’s forward. So I think providing that great content is going to continue to allow us to grow.
Joe Coldebella:
So, your predecessor, as you said, was JJ Jones who’s awesome. He and Richard Williams did an amazing job behind the scenes. And we’re over a year out from the 2024 event. What’s your thought in terms of the vision? Are you looking to expand things? Or are you planning to focus on what you are doing really great?
Evann Freeman:
I think it’s all of the above. I think it’s been a very successful event, and every year has grown and grown and grown. And I think building on what JJ and Rich are doing and working with them to expand that vision. So what we’re talking about now is what is fiber disrupting? And we are having conversations about communities getting into the business and how you can find funding to do it. These are good business models. We have just been going down those categories. But then, peeking ahead to what are the use cases for fiber? What are the things that companies are doing that are benefiting from fiber?
And bringing those folks to the table as well to think comprehensively of — We’re working towards getting every American connected. That’s what the federal government said, “This is going to be our mission.” So how can we support that and make sure fiber’s getting rolled out? And then once those folks have that connectivity, what’s quality of life look like? What telehealth technologies are coming up? What are agricultural technologies that are coming up? So we are thinking through like that and adding that content.
Joe Coldebella:
That’s great. I know that you folks have shifted your tagline to, “When fiber leads, the future follows.” This is a very industry-centric conference, but it’s also an opportunity I think. And I’d be curious to get your thoughts. Obviously, there’s farming, telemedicine, gaming, and ag tech. There are so many different business use cases. At the heart or behind the scenes is broadband. Is there any thought to perhaps bringing in industries that may not be your first thought when you think of broadband, but they’re really key drivers?
Just as an example, I know that a few years ago you had some folks from Meta here. Is that something that you guys are considering or is it on the table, and you’re just going to see what sort of happens in the next year?
Evann Freeman:
Yeah, I mean I think everything’s still on the table. We’re planning out and thinking through things, but I think those industries are a very important part of the conversation because communities are thinking about building out and considering the economic development opportunity. And the economic development’s going to come from companies like you mentioned in those different industries that are going to be using this technology to sell a product or have a business model that way. But also, where they’re going to locate. And they’re going to locate where they can get fast service. So those communities that adopt that and have the fiber technology infrastructure in place are going to be able to take advantage of that. So I think selling the case of why you need fiber and having those voices at the table expands that.
Joe Coldebella:
So true. It’s amazing how when you talk to operators here or any other conference, or out in the wild, they say the same thing over and over again. It’s that their neighboring towns or neighboring counties are super jealous when they have fiber and their neighbors don’t. And their neighbors are like, “Hey, listen, can you do something to extend that a little farther, so you can get us?” And lots of times the folks are like, “You need to build that initiative within.”
I would love to get your final thoughts. It has been a great visit. I am really looking forward to seeing what you guys do for 2024. As the chair, what advice would you give someone who’s looking to make a meaningful impact in the broadband industry?
Evann Freeman:
First, I would say if you’re not a member of the Fiber Broadband Association, that would be step one. There are resources from the government relations input and the industry perspective from best practices. There’s the workforce development aspect that’s really, really impactful for folks. So I would say that would be the first step. And then, the second step is to get involved. So don’t just be a member, join the committee. Be a part of the conference committee or the technical committee. Just get involved where your interest is. But I think organizations like FBA are important, one, to make sure that the industry stays healthy, but two, to be in the rooms having the conversations with policymakers to make sure that fiber is pushed forward.
Joe Coldebella:
Awesome. I’m really looking forward to 2024. Right now, we’re at the Acorn. I’m looking forward to seeing the oak tree that you guys produce. If folks want to reach out to you or the organization, where’s the best place for them to go?
Evann Freeman:
The best place for them to go, always feel free to reach out to me at my email address-
Joe Coldebella:
Or LinkedIn as well. LinkedIn is always the best place, where we send everybody. Everyone in this industry lives on LinkedIn. But yeah, that’s where I would send them.
Evann Freeman:
Yeah, look me up on LinkedIn.
Joe Coldebella:
I’ll put that in the show notes, so folks can directly go to your LinkedIn page.
Evann Freeman:
Yes.
Joe Coldebella:
Awesome. Thank you so much. I am really looking forward to all the cool things you do in 2024.
Evann Freeman:
Joe, thanks for having me on, and I look forward to talking to you more.
Joe Coldebella:
That’s going to wrap up this episode of The Broadband Bunch. Until next time, we’ll see you guys later.
