Aided by Chattanooga's citywide gig internet, Tennessee ranks as the third best state for the share of households where high-speed internet service is available.
The technology website Smart Home Starter said nearly half of Tennessee households have access to gigabit-per-second internet where such high-speed internet was the cheapest among the top-ranked states. Tennessee's ranking is boosted by Chattanooga's EPB, which offers high-speed internet service to all residences in its 600-square-mile service territory.
The top states for access to gigabit residential internet service and the average annual costs for phone and internet in those states are:
1. North Dakota, 60.6% of households with average annual phone and internet costs of $1,670.25.
2. Minnesota, 60.4% of households with average annual phone and internet costs of $1,840.70.
3. Tennessee, 48.3% of households with average annual phone and internet costs of $1,544.13.
4. Utah, 48.25% of households with average annual phone and internet costs of $1,799.68.
5. Connecticut, 44.61% of households with average annual phone and internet costs of $2,025.10.
Source: Smarthomestarter.com based on data from the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Census Bureau
Staff File Photo / EPB lineman David Everett, left, and foreman Clint Stanfield work to install fiber optic cable along Amnicola Highway by moving cables to a new metal pole.
Staff Photo / Two men man the EPB Fiber Optic control room in 2015 following an FCC decision allowing gigabit internet service to expand beyond the Chattanooga area.