Gig City Goes Quantum^SM captures momentum to advance quantum innovation in Chattanooga

To prepare for education, jobs and business opportunities in the emerging quantum technology sector, EPB and Qubitekk joined with community leaders, universities, schools and companies to launch Gig City Goes Quantum. The collaboration's inaugural effort began with a community-wide celebration of World Quantum Day from April 14 through May 31. Surpassing the original goal of engaging people of all ages in completing 1,000+ Quantum Learning Activities, Gig City Goes Quantum succeeded by engaging more than 120 educators in reaching nearly 8,000 students through more than 2,200 learning activities.

EPB and Qubitekk curated live stream videos and demonstrations, games and interactive resources from Hamilton County Schools, Chattanooga State Community College, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), Chattanooga 2.0, Public Education Foundation Chattanooga, National Science Foundation, National Q-12 Education Partnership and Xairos.

“EPB and Qubitekk's partnership positions Chattanooga to lead in the quantum space and serves as an example to other municipalities of supporting meaningful progress to advance quantum investments in their communities.” — Quantum Economic Development Consortium Executive Director Celia Merzbacher

The Chattanooga-based effort generated local momentum that EPB Quantum Network hopes to spread cooperatively across the country. CO.LAB, a Chattanooga-based early-stage startup accelerator, evolved its focus to sustainable mobility innovations for advancing the equitable movement of goods, people, energy and data, including a special focus on quantum technology. CO.LAB also prominently featured quantum topics on its inaugural CO.MOBILITY Summit agenda, including an address by Qubitekk Co-Founder, President and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Duncan Earl and a Quantum Bootcamp to educate attendees about the fundamentals of quantum physics and their real-world applications.

EPB supports Chattanooga's growth with energy expertise

Take a drive around Chattanooga and you'll see rapid development across our community. With twice as many new residences^* being built this year as there were two years ago, EPB crews and engineers have been busy behind the scenes designing and installing the new infrastructure necessary to provide services to these newly built homes, while also supporting rapid business growth across the community. New developments like the Lookouts stadium, The Bend riverfront development and the Westside community are some, but certainly not all, of the most visible projects that EPB is working to support.

Even before a shovel touches dirt, EPB is at the table. In support of state and local economic development incentives, EPB offers new construction growth credits to offset electric infrastructure costs and support continued development in our community. Specific provisions are available for residential, business and industrial developments, as well as commercial EV charging stations. Additionally, contractors can pursue EPB Smart Build^SM certification to demonstrate the homes they build meet certain energy efficiency requirements.

Once developers decide to build, EPB works closely with them to ensure the installation of infrastructure in accordance with their construction schedule while providing personalized service and expertise through completion. To ensure we have the equipment needed to connect these investments to our Smart Grid, EPB stocks critical components sometimes years ahead of schedule to ensure they'll be available when needed and projects stay on schedule.

^* Including both single family houses and multi-family dwellings such as apartments and condos.

HCS EdConnect bridges the digital divide

HCS EdConnect powered by EPB continues to bridge the digital divide for public school students and their families living in Hamilton County. The program, which provides home-based, fiber optic internet to students in need at no charge, is creating a lasting legacy that will improve socioeconomic outcomes to advance health, economic and educational prosperity for generations.

During the 2022-2023 school year, nearly 17,000 students enrolled in HCS EdConnect, totaling more than 28,000 people when counting their families.

Boston College researchers surveying parents found when households participate in HCS EdConnect the entire family benefits. Parents of HCS EdConnect students told researchers having home internet access has helped them find new jobs, attend telehealth appointments and pursue ongoing education online. Nearly all eligible HCS parents surveyed (93%) reported feeling more positive toward technology in education — a significant gain in comparison to previous research findings.

Today, HCS EdConnect serves as a national example. EPB's fiber-to-the-home community-wide network underpins the speed, reliability and access that has made the program so successful.

Up from here: Lineman training partnership creates new opportunities

EPB and a dynamic group of organizations joined together to fill critical diversity gaps in the lineman profession by establishing the Southeast Lineman Training Center Partnership. The program provides a series of career exposures and hands-on learning opportunities to open clear pathways into careers in the energy and telecommunications industries for marginalized communities.

To date, EPB has hired three of the program participants as full-time employees working in Field Operations serving fiber customers: Melique Hambrick, T'André Tarvin and Anthony Bell. Melique and T'André also graduated from the EPB Institute of Technology and Networking at Tyner, where they first learned about lineman career opportunities.

While they admitted overcoming their fear of heights, all have become essential, respected members of their teams with enormous potential for growth.

“I wouldn't have known the Southeast Lineman Training Center Partnership was an option had I not heard about it through the EPB Future Ready Institute,” Melique said. ”This is a great field that lets you shape your future and gives you the option to branch into other areas. I feel like I can go anywhere in this trade.”

Collaborating organizations also include TVA, Benwood Foundation, Hamilton County Schools, Southeast Lineman Training Center (SLTC), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the American Association of Blacks in Energy East Tennessee Chapter (AABE) and Chattanooga 2.0.

Serving other communities while bringing new dollars into Chattanooga's economy

EPB's Broadband Solutions continues to share our world-class infrastructure and expertise with other municipalities and utilities by providing technical and operational expertise to help them deploy fiber optic networks to their own communities. EPB Broadband Solutions lowers the barriers of entry for other community-based internet providers outside of our service area. In fiscal year 2022-2023, EPB Broadband Solutions' revenue reached $6.7 million dollars.

As the need for improved broadband services grows in rural America, increased federal funding has become available for states and communities pursuing improved high-speed internet access. As a fiber optics industry leader, EPB's experience deploying the country's fastest community-wide internet helps provide a roadmap for clients that want to begin their own journey. EPB Broadband Solutions offer several services, including 24/7 technical support, complex provisioning, alarm monitoring, expert product, pricing strategy, and wholesale bandwidth such as Direct Internet Access (DIA).

To date, EPB Broadband Solutions has established contracts with 26 municipal, co-op and telco service providers with the potential to serve 1.1 million subscribers who live as far away as Texas and Pennsylvania. By helping other communities create and grow their own broadband services, EPB Broadband Solutions is bringing new dollars into our community creating new local jobs to support these growing networks.