During a press conference this morning, the Electric Power Board announced that its fiber optic network, called EPB Fiber Optics, will launch in mid-July (July) in the downtown footprint. The network will host high-speed internet, a cable package, and phone service. The utility company plans to complete its fiber optic infrastructure by summer 2010. UPDATE: EPB has reskinned its EPB Fiber site to reflect the new brand.
UPDATE: An earlier version of this article claimed that EPB Fiber would launch in 'mid-July,' however EPB stated that they 'hoped' to launch Fiber service at an undisclosed date in July. We regret the error.
From EPB Fiber Optics:
The superior communications products we will provide are like nothing else on the market. That’s why they need names like nothing else on the market: Fi-Speed Internet - super high speed Internet with symmetrical upload and download speeds. Fi TV - incredible picture quality and better signal reliability and overall more choices: numerous HD channels to choose from, limitless video on demand choices and an infrastructure at your fingertips that will provide enough bandwidth for features that are not even in the market yet. Fi Phone - dependable, high quality home or business phone service. Tri-Fi Bundle - bundle of our three fiber optic services.
Beta testing for EPB Fiber Optics has been underway for hundreds of downtown customers since mid-April. Initially, the public rollout was scheduled to begin in late-May, but was delayed by the electronics portion of the project, according to an EPB spokeswoman. Last week, the City of Red Bank signed a franchise agreement with EPB for fiber optic television. The utility company says that it plans to negotiate franchise agreements with each individual municipality in Hamilton County. EPB has partnered with Tantalus Systems Corporation, a Vancouver-based company, to provide automatic meter reading, outage management, and other applications on its Smart Grid network. HT: @josiahq, @evPhoneHome
David Morton
stephen42 on June 9, 2009
Has EPB announced their start-up time table for fiber optics to the rest of the city?
DavidMorton on June 9, 2009
The website states that this will include downtown, Southside, Highland Park, and North Chatt in the initial rollout. Dave Flessner says Red Bank and East Ridge "within the year."
I would assume that it's on a case-by-case basis for everywhere else, working towards summer 2010.
mwillingham on June 9, 2009
I wouldn't get too excited if you don't live close to downtown.
This is from their website:
"our goal is to have our entire service area - including Georgia - built in 5 years."
strangeblue on June 9, 2009
I doubt they are ever going to offer tv. arent comcast and epb on some huge court battle or something of that nature. it's definitely gonna be overpriced. at least a $100 monthly just for internet.
ghostfreeman on June 9, 2009
They've failed to outline what their plans for service in Georgia will be. I guess we'll know in five years.
fred on June 10, 2009
Strangeblue, you know that a couple of minutes of google searching before you posted your reply would have saved you from looking like an ill-informed idiot.
So, no TV and $100 just for internet? Huh.
facebook-567304615 on June 10, 2009
And here I am, stuck with sucky Comcast, AT&T, and not even a decent electricity provider, Volunteer Energy... I'm complain about Comcast and AT&T but then the power would go out and it'd be a moot point.
hdtb on June 11, 2009
I live in the Mountain Creek Road area and I wonder if the North Chatt. means Mtn. Creek Road too. They say 2010 for full roll out and for most people that isn't fast enough. They seem to keep moving the date of start frequently.
DavidMorton on June 11, 2009
Theoretically, the Mountain Creek Road area would be included with Red Bank. I don't know that for sure BTW, just guessing. But, I've noticed that EPB trucks have been working in that area lately, so anything's possible.
There's only been one delay that I know of with the public rollout. In March, EPB hoped to have Fiber going by late-May. That's been pushed back to July. It should be noted that they've never given an exact date for the launch.
According to EPB, the delay is due entirely to problems with "electronics." I'm not sure if that means the electronics on the consumer end, the electronics on the provider end, or some combination of both.
Nathan Shirai on June 12, 2009
So does this change the term from "Wi-Fi" to "Fi-Fi?"
hdtb on June 12, 2009
I saw two EPB contractor trucks yesterday near my house and that was a very encouraging site. I think the weather we have had as of late has been very helpful in getting the lines installed.