Authored By chloe.morrison

Comcast has plans to offer gig Internet speeds this year-a move that EPB said could ultimately benefit everyone.

“It benefits the country as a whole when we can all communicate and talk to each other at the same speed,” EPB spokesman John Pless said. “We welcome competition.”

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has been discussing his proposal to bring all communities access to faster, cheaper Internet. And he’s been touting Chattanooga as an example of a city that’s done that well.

“What’s very interesting is ever since EPB fiber optics and Google launched its gig fiber initiative, there are hundreds of communities around our country that are demanding gigabit fiber [service],” Pless also said. “They are realizing it’s essential to business and essential to quality of life.”

Comcast gig vs. EPB gig

Comcast plans to use a chip for cable modems that relies on a version of Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications, DOCSIS 3.1.

“DOCSIS 3.1 is a critical technology for Comcast to provide even faster, more reliable data speeds and features such as IP video to our subscribers’ homes by harnessing more spectrum in the downstream,” Comcast Executive Vice President Tony Werner said. ”By more effectively using our cable plant to grow our total throughput, we expect to offer our customers more than 1 gigabit speeds in their homes in 2015 and beyond.”

Generally, gig service is offered by providers that have fiber optics infrastructure, like EPB.

“It’s really two different architectures for delivering the Internet,” Comcast spokesman Charlie Douglas said. “A gig is a gig whether it’s over DOCSIS 3.1 or fiber.”

But Arstechnica.com reported that although the newest version of DOCSIS will help Comcast compete with fiber download speeds, it might not be able to provide symmetrical upload and download speeds. Symmetrical service is when upload and download speeds are the same.

Pless said that one of the benefits of the fiber service EPB offers is that it provides symmetrical service.

Obama’s proposal

Last week, Obama discussed ideas aimed at helping more communities get access to faster, affordable Internet.

In a speech in Cedar Falls, Iowa, he told the story of Chattanooga’s gig success and how it’s helped spur economic development.

He’s expected to elaborate further in Tuesday’s State of the Union address. (Does that mean Chattanooga will get a mention in that speech, too?)

The proposal, in part, calls for an end to laws that hurt broadband service competition.



Laws in 19 states are hurting that competition, according to a news release from the White House’s press office.

Obama’s administration is filing a letter with the Federal Communications Commission, urging it to address the barriers to competition. The FCC could supersede state laws.

Last year, EPB filed a petition with the FCC in an effort to override a Tennessee law that prohibits fiber optic, high-speed Internet availability to neighboring communities.

State law allows EPB to provide telephone services anywhere in the state, and those services would be provided using a fiber optic communications system. But a “territorial restriction” prohibits EPB from using the same fiber optic network to provide Internet outside its electric power service territory, according to Nooga.com archives.

The FCC will vote next month on EPB’s request, as well as a similar one from leaders in Wilson, North Carolina, according to The Center for Public Integrity.

Obama’s plan would mean more competition for big companies such as Comcast, which often have a monopoly.

The Center for Public Integrity also reported that Comcast, AT&T and Time Warner spent millions to lobby state legislatures to try to prevent what Obama is proposing.

The National Governors Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures have also urged the FCC not to override the state laws.

Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., said Obama’s proposal is an attempt to get more control for the federal government, according to NewsChannel 9.

“This afternoon, we will see the president parachute into Iowa and tout a new federal takeover of state laws governing broadband and the Internet,” Fischer said. “These Washington-centric solutions set a dangerous precedent and have real impacts on local communities and businesses.”

Beyond a gig

Chattanooga resident and marketing professional Ryan Russell said he is proud of the fact that Chattanooga has been leading the way by providing the gig.

“Google and Comcast are playing catch-up to Chattanooga,” he said.

Although much of the gig’s benefits remain to be seen, Chattanooga will soon be tasked with keeping up the innovation.

“We’ve got to prove that we’re the best at putting this technology to its best use,” Russell said.

Both Comcast and EPB leaders have their eyes set on faster speeds in the future.

“Ultimately, down the road, we would be able to offer 10 gig service, especially to larger companies,” Pless said. “We’ve got that infrastructure in place that will enable us to move toward that.”