KUB’s head honcho Gabe Bolas, II authored an op-ed in a recent issue of the daily print newspaper, I get it, in this economy, who can afford the pay wall? It may as well be the new YUGE Southern Border.
It wasn’t long ago that our community was eagerly awaiting KUB Fiber. The public was not eagerly awaiting KUB Fiber, in fact the public attended meetings asking the Board not to jump so fast, the electric customers could not afford to bank roll a fifth utility.
The COVID-19 pandemic made it clear that high-speed internet was no longer a luxury, but a necessity for individuals and communities to thrive. So, Knoxville Utilities Board added its fifth utility and connected its first KUB Fiber customer in October 2022. COVID did not necessitate the KUB electric customers to live with rate increases over one, two three or more years to loan money to begin Fiber. If what Bolas authored is true, why sponsor the soccer team. why litter the roads with KUB Fiber signs? Where are the sign-ups so that advertising is NOT necessary?
Just under 2½ years later, our fiber system is halfway constructed, and nearly 84,000 residential and business customers across our service territory have access to affordable internet with KUB Fiber. Just under 2.5 years the KUB electric customers have had two almost three rate increases to loan the money for Fiber? 84,000 residential and business customers have access, but how many have actually signed up?
Next year, we will enter the third and final phase of fiber network construction. When that work is complete in 2027, all KUB electric customers will have access to the fastest internet in town, and they will also benefit from enhanced electric reliability that fiber technology brings. Next year, the third pay increase for electric customers to pay for Fiber. All electric customers will have access, but how many will sign up? How many thousands or millions will KUB spend on soccer jerseys, daily news print advertising and other marketing efforts to achieve the subscribers for Fiber? What is electric and Fiber’s ROI (Return on Investment) or burn rate on advertising versus contracts?
Come on KUB and your five utilities and Mr Bolas, tell the rest of the story!
