
A new white paper from CRER research scholar Bento Lobo examines the different ways that Chattanooga has benefited from high-speed broadband. Chattanooga was the first city in the country to roll out citywide gigabit-speed broadband in 2010, and the benefits of this infrastructure have been widespread and substantial. The benefits have come in the form of greater economic output and local taxes, along with benefits to consumers and to the region as a whole through media coverage. A recent study (Lobo and Plank, 2025) estimated that the value of high-speed broadband to the community exceeded $3.9 billion over the period 2011-2025. The effects are manifest in smart city initiatives and economic development, as well as technological innovations in public works, healthcare, education, and entertainment.