KUB held a mandatory Public Hearing for the creation of it’s fifth utility, Fiber Broadband. It can only be done with its electric customers. So folks like me in the populace of Southwest Knox County are out. That’s okay, we have viable internet.

Watch the presentation here or below.

A Google search reveal there are 10 internet providers serving Knoxville. Some are fiber, some are cable, some are satellite.

I am not friendly to quasi governmental entity like KUB competing with “real” business. One of the last speakers really summed it up. You are improving/updating electric and paying for it with fiber internet. The electric customers will experience a 3% increase over 3 years. KUB Electric will loan fiber 35 million over two years.

Union and Grainger Countians will get improved electric and potential fiber broadband.

The KUB Board is expected to decide in 6-8 weeks. The. Knoxville City Council will decide. Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon and Union County Mayor Dr. Jason Bailey are in total support.

One speaker suggested that the voters should decide. That’s not a bad idea, in my humble opinion.

more to follow.