Chattanooga’s EPB Invites 15 Service Providers to Discuss Broadband’s Future

EPB Broadband Solutions, formed by 89-year-old Chattanooga utility provider, EPB, hosted a summit with 15 U.S. broadband service providers to discuss innovations in broadband and the future of deploying fiber in the BEAD era.

The company presented programs on opportunities and challenges service providers experience, such as workforce development, customer service, cybersecurity, technology updates, and staying ahead of trends and energy.

“Shared knowledge, resources and strategies give BEAD-eligible communities an advantage,” said EPB in a press release about the event.

Learning from experience

In 2009, EPB launched Chattanooga and Hamilton County, Tennessee’s, only 100% fiber community-wide network. This experience led to the development of EPB Broadband Solutions in 2012 to help other communities with planning, rolling out, and operating high-speed internet services. It now works with 30 out-of-market fiber optic providers with more than 160,000 subscribers.

“Launching a community-wide fiber optic network has, no doubt, been the most impactful way we fulfill our mission to enhance quality of life in our community,” said Katie Espeseth, vice president of New Products, EPB. “It can be a complex and sometimes challenging process, so we want to help other providers succeed so their customers can experience the benefits of having access to high-speed internet.”

Through its agreement with EPB Broadband Solutions, Buzz Broadband has used EPB technical support services to address customer issues.

"EPB applies their experience to make it easier for our company and our customers to get answers quickly,” said Andy Willis, Director of Telecom Services, Buzz Broadband, who attended the summit.

"Broadband can be complicated, and it’s important to seek people who’ve already been through the transition. It isn’t always easy, but working with the right partners makes things run more smoothly, like our experience with EPB. We trust them to operate high quality services and stay on top of the latest trends and best practices.”

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