Three weeks after launching its residential video, Internet and phone service, EPB announced Thursday it is extending its fiber-optic service to another 10,000 homes.
Homes from Brainerd to Lupton City will have access to the service starting this week, officials said.
EPB already has signed up nearly 900 customers since the Sept. 15 launch of its "Fi-TV, Fi-Phone and Fi-speed Internet."
In addition to the 270 "Fioneers" who tested the new service this summer, EPB has picked up more than 600 subscribers from among the initial 17,000 homes where the service was launched in September in parts of Chattanooga, Red Bank and East Ridge.
"We've had tremendous response so far and we're working to roll out our service even quicker than we originally planned," EPB Senior Vice President Katie Espeseth said.
More than one-third of the new residential subscribers are signing up for all three of the fiber-optic services and another 40 percent are picking up at least two of the new services.
"We spent a long time testing and getting ready, and I think that has helped make sure we are well received," Ms. Espeseth said.
Those who call EPB often can be hooked up in as little as two to three days, EPB spokeswoman Lacie Newton said.
EPB's fiber-optic services are challenging Comcast, which bought the former Chattanooga Cable TV company in 1997.
Comcast's Chattanooga general manager, Valerie Gillespie, said the cable TV giant also continues to expand its service. Since this summer, Comcast has expanded its high-definition lineup in Chattanooga to include 91 channels and has upgraded some of its recording and phone options.
Comcast also is emphasizing a corporatewide customer guarantee by emphasizing its 30-day, money-back guarantee on all services. Comcast employees also can provide customers with compensatory service options to make up for any lost services or problems, she said.
"We continue to listen to our customers and respond to the market," Ms. Gillespie said.
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I am no fan of Comcast. I advocated for EPB's Fiber service with the hopes of bringing viable competition to the market and boosting technology available to residents.
Fiber is a better service. I would love to try it, but at nearly twice Comcast's prices for basic internet service, I cannot justify the expense.
I had hoped for competition and value for residents. It is my hope that EPB's exorbitant rates don't give Comcast cause to raise their own rates.
After reading comment from somethingorother, I checked both Comcast's website and EPB's website to check the pricing myself. Though it's not double as was stated, EPB's 15 MG internet is priced higher than Comcast's but it looks like EPB has more features and it has almost 10 times the upload speed than Comcast. To some people, that will make a big difference. But sign up for EPB or not, as a long time Chattanooga resident, I have to say that Comcast is treating us nicer these days. What do you think brought that on? EPB told us that they would bring competition and it looks to me like it worked - Comcast has upgraded their system, has provided more HD channels, and now wants to try to give good customer service. So if you don't sign up for EPB service, it looks to me like you benefit.
We gave up on Comcast for good about two years ago after a few weeks of horrible, unresponsive, and rude customer service. I'm glad to hear they've turned things around. Alas, it does not benefit me.
Don't get me wrong! I gave up Comcast too and am with direct TV; will be an EPB customer as soon as they get to my neighborhood. So I can't vouch for if Comcast has turned things around or not. From what my family and friends who have Comcast say, they are still getting the same bad customer service and spotty internet connection. But my point is that Comcast is going out on the news, talking about making upgrades and talking about giving better customer service. And that's something that only happened because they have competition and they know EPB's services, though more expensive, are far better.