The MetroNet internet proposal by Mayor Bob Corker and the Electric Power Board drew support and also criticism at a public hearing Thursday afternoon.

EPB’s board of directors held the afternoon hearing as a step toward implementation of Mayor Corker’s "digital vision."

Several local phone service providers, including BellSouth, questioned the financial forecasts for MetroNet.

They also said the government program would be unfairly competing with the private sector.

Patsy Hazelwood of BellSouth said she favors "real economic development, but not more government programs."

Also speaking in opposition were officials of USLec as well as Mike Harrison of Chattanooga Online.

The board heard public comments about its plans to develop a new division to provide broadband, management and technical support services for MetroNet’s new high-speed Internet access service.

MetroNet is a venture by the mayor’s office and EPB, bringing state-of-the-art, Gigabit Ethernet (Gig-E) service to businesses in Chattanooga. MetroNet’s Gig-E service will provide businesses with nearly six times greater speed than what is currently available in the Chattanooga market (via DSL or T1 lines), proponents say.

MetroNet’s connections "advance Chattanooga’s broadband capabilities years ahead of other like-size cities. Gig-E service is currently available only in about 20 major cities nationwide, including New York, Chicago, Dallas and Washington, D.C.," it was stated.

MetroNet, a not-for-profit economic development tool announced last month, will provide super-speed Gig-E connection to the Internet for businesses downtown and in surrounding areas. The connectivity service is designed to attract out-of-town businesses to Chattanooga, as well as increase business productivity for existing companies in the city.

“Throughout our 63-year history, EPB has demonstrated a strong commitment to the economic development of Chattanooga,” said EPB President Harold DePriest. “It is a natural extension of that commitment and of our service capabilities to serve as the operations center for MetroNet’s Internet connectivity.”

The EPB board of directors will meet later this month to consider public comments and the company’s Internet project. Upon approval by EPB’s board of directors, the Chattanooga City Council would vote on the project.