A 2015 study by a University of Tennessee economist found that Chattanooga’s much heralded smart grid and citywide gigabit Internet service had resulted in at least 2,800 new jobs and added $865.3 million to the local economy. The figure was due to a reduction in power outages resulting in part from smart grid technologies provided by S&C Electric Co., plus better Internet services and attracting new businesses. But as you’ll read below, today Chattanooga leaders are worried about the ramifications of a digital imbalance that leaves disadvantaged neighborhoods behind. – Philip Bane”We can’t have digital gated communities. The power of the web should be an equalizer, not something that creates greater inequity,” said Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke in a CNN piece last year.
Source: Smart Cities Council | Left behind in Gig City? How Chattanooga is promoting digital inclusion
