Proponents of allowing providers like EPB expand their internet services say slow speeds at best and unavailability at worst are major detriments to a large portion of residents across the state.Disappointment came for many rural Hamilton and Bradley county residents on Aug. 10 when a U.S. appeals court struck down a 2015 Federal Communications Commission order that would have allowed EPB and other city-owned utilities to expand their high-speed internet services to previously unserved areas.
Though the court ruling means several locals will continue to pay higher prices for slower-speed internet despite voicing their concerns to state representatives, officials with the Tennessee-based broadband provider promised residents they are not giving up.
“We have a growing number of state lawmakers who are very supportive,” said J.Ed. Marston, vice president of marketing at EPB. “We’re hopeful that with the support of people who care about this issue they will rework the policy to allow greater freedom for customers to choose among a competitive field of broadband providers.”
Despite the upheld restrictions on EPB’s territory limits, Marston said the legislators “made more progress last year than we had ever seen on this issue,” and added that the lawmakers are expected to sponsor the legislation again come January.
While lawmakers are appealing to the Tennessee Legislature, Marston encouraged residents to join the fight by talking about the issue’s importance with their neighbors and local officials, contacting their state representatives to ask for the broadband expansion and staying updated at tn4fiber.org, where they can also find relevant social media groups.