There are plenty of times when we all know it’s great to live in and around Chattanooga.
This week has been one of those times, especially when EPB – a city-owned electricity distributor and fiber optics cable utility – reaffirmed its commitment to an open internet even after the Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal net neutrality rules.
Despite the FCC’s 3-2 vote to overturn regulations that prohibited broadband providers from blocking or slowing websites and charging for higher-quality service or certain content, EPB president David Wade said EPB will continue to uphold net neutrality standards in the internet services it provides to more than 94,000 Chattanooga households and businesses.
Here’s how the FCC vote could play out in computers and televisions across the country, according to most consumer advocates: With the rules scrapped, broadband providers will begin selling the internet in bundles, not unlike how cable television is already sold. If you want to access Facebook and Twitter, you have to pay extra for a premium social media package, much as you now pay extra to get popular sports and movie channels. You get the idea.
But not at EPB, its officials say.
“EPB doesn’t play favorites when it comes to online traffic, so businesses of all sizes have a level playing field for delivering new and innovative options for customers,” EPB spokesman J. Ed. Marston said. “That’s good for customers and good for creating new jobs.”
EPB says “every home and business customer can send web content through EPB’s network at the same fast speed without having to pay extra.” The utility also says it will “never sell your website browsing information or online content.”
On the other hand, Comcast, the biggest internet service provider in the region and nationwide, welcomed the end of net neutrality regulations, which company officials claim create a regulatory burden that hurts business.
Kudos to EPB.