EPB's Cable Package to Include 330 Channels, 60 in HD

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Prospective EPB Fiber Optics customers will have to wait a little longer for details on the channel lineup for Fi TV, the cable package set to launch in downtown Chattanooga next month. Yesterday, however, EPB spokeswoman Lacie Newton confirmed that the package will include over 330 channels with 60 in HD. She said, "We are wrapping up negotiations with content providers for channels and until we have signed every contract, we will not have a finalized channel lineup to share. We will have just over 330 channels, 60 of them in high definition."

Fi TV is one component of the EPB Fiber Optics program. Fi Phone and Fi-Speed Internet will also launch in July over EPB's fiber optic network throughout the Chattanooga area. When asked for a specific launch date, Ms. Newton said, "We will officially launch as soon as our electronics reach their optimum performance. We hope that will occur next month, but we have not set a date at this time." The Electric Power Board announced the names of the three telecommunications packages—as well as the EPB Fiber Optic brand—during a press conference on Tuesday.

Pricing for the packages remains undisclosed, but the EPB website says that prices will be 5-15% cheaper than comparable services provided by Comcast and AT&T. EPB's fiber optic network will also be considerably faster than the existing telecommunications infrastructure. Some beta testers have cited download and upload speeds of 20 Mbps and 10 Mbps, respectively.

The initial rollout of EPB Fiber Optics will provide service to Alton Park, downtown Chattanooga, Highland Park, North Chattanooga, and St. Elmo. EPB expects to be able to provide service to residents within the city limits of Chattanooga, Red Bank, and East Ridge within a year—representing two thirds of the utility company's service area.

"Any area in the city limits of Chattanooga is included in the first year," Ms. Newton said. "80% of our customer service area will be covered within the first 3 years, and our entire customer service area in 5 years."