Internet speeds into jobs

Something good out of Chattanooga? The city with the fastest metropolitan Internet access plans to turn that into jobs.

Elizabeth Prann wrote for Fox 26 January 2013, City turns Internet speeds into jobs, that Chattanooga

is home to most advanced smart grid in the nation, customers are enjoying Internet speeds that are almost 100 times faster than the national average. Most Internet users in the U.S. have access to about 4.5 megabits of Internet speed.

We wish! OK, you can get spees that fast here: with Verizon 4G LTE, not too many places via land access.

So what’s Chattanooga got that’s better?

Yet the 600 square mile fiber optic grid under Chattanooga offers residents and businesses a blazing 50 megabits. Business leaders are capitalizing on the fast Internet speeds by launching two initiatives to attract bright minds to the city, create jobs and stimulate the economy.

GeekMove and the GigTank:

You might call them “Geeks” but Chattanooga civic and business leaders see this new crop of Internet wizards, software developers and computer programmers as future residents. They are hoping their new incentive program called, “GeekMove” will attract tech ‘geeks.’ It’s an offer loaded with paid relocation expenses and mortgage assistance.

“The thought behind the ‘GeekMove’ is — we have this gig fiber here — why wouldn’t people who need that gig fiber want to come take advantage of it every day,” Garrison said. “[It’s] so rewarding when we do get those folks who are on board with us — they want to be here in Chattanooga, and they want to come be a part of what’s going on here.”

They’re over-micromanaging it with a committee, but at least they’re trying something. And they’re doing it in public, instead of behind closed doors.

-jsq