Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) provides electric, fiber, natural gas, water, and wastewater treatment services to more than 501,000 customers in Knoxville and parts of seven surrounding counties. In 2022, KUB introduced fiber as its fifth utility.
KUB Fiber has now reached its halfway point in the network buildout, making high-speed internet available to over 85,000 customers. This progress is the result of extensive planning that began long before the first fiber customer came online in 2022. To enhance electric reliability, KUB began adding fiber technology back in 2013. The decision to bring high-speed internet to its customers greatly expedited KUB’s fiber rollout.
“Planning the full system fiber rollout started a year or two before we added our first customer,” Fiber Network Engineering Manager Britt Elmore said. “We handle the full spectrum of fiber network engineering—from mapping and inspections to providing the tools needed to make sure the network operates efficiently. We also ensure all necessary permits are secured.”
Elmore explained that his team of engineers uses the GIS (Geographic Information System) to plan the network layout with precision. Fiber network engineers carefully design the network layout, considering factors like existing infrastructure, electric reliability, population density, and regulatory requirements. Additionally, KUB focused on rural communities that were previously underserved or unserved by other high-speed fiber internet providers.
In Fiscal Year 2024, KUB secured grant funding from the State of Tennessee to support fiber construction in portions of underserved and unserved rural Grainger, Union, Sevier, and Jefferson Counties within its service territory. Today, KUB Fiber is now available to all KUB customers in Union and Grainger Counties, with construction underway in Sevier and Jefferson Counties. Customers who once didn’t have reliable cellphone service can now rely on KUB for connectivity, making remote work and internet-reliant schoolwork a reality. “I’m proud to help bridge those gaps and be part of the process in bringing internet access to customers in our service territory,” Elmore said.
Fiber optic technology is revolutionizing how customers connect, work, and learn. “Our fiber optic cables transmit data at much higher speeds and over longer distances compared to traditional copper wires, making them ideal for high-speed internet,” Elmore said. Aside from its lightning-fast speeds, KUB customers will also benefit from electric reliability improvements that fiber technology provides.
In 2026, KUB will begin the third and final phase of its fiber network construction. Once fully completed, the fiber optic cable network will span over 5,000 miles—equivalent to more than the distance from here to Los Angeles and back.
As part of its commitment to fostering innovation, KUB’s Student Program offers college students part-time positions and co-op opportunities, providing hands-on experience in the world of public utilities. This program gives students a chance to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world utility projects, such as the fiber network buildout. Learn more about KUB student programs.