Chattanooga's EPB Links Fiber Network to Quantum Computer After $220 Million Broadband Bet
Updated
Updated · Vox.com · Oct 29
Chattanooga's EPB Links Fiber Network to Quantum Computer After $220 Million Broadband Bet
3 articles · Updated · Vox.com · Oct 29
Summary
EPB became the first US provider to connect a fiber-optic network to a quantum computer, extending Chattanooga’s municipally owned broadband beyond internet access to research and advanced computing use.
The move builds on a network EPB launched in 2010 after deciding its smart-grid fiber could also deliver broadband, a project finished in two years with a $111 million federal grant and about $222 million in bonds.
That system has since scaled from 1-gigabit service to 25-gigabit offerings in 2023, while keeping entry-level gigabit service at $68 a month and winning strong local customer support.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga researchers estimated EPB’s fiber network generated $5.3 billion in economic benefits and 10,420 jobs in its first decade, helping fund schools and hold electricity rates flat this year.
Chattanooga’s model remains unusual even as more than 700 communities have pursued municipal broadband, with over 12 states still restricting such networks despite persistent gaps in US internet access and affordability.