Sure, everyone knows Chattanooga's public utility-owned rocks. But 11 years before EPB launched Chattanooga to fame, Springfield, MO was way ahead of the curve with its Springnet fiber network. Their Manager of Network Architecture/Support shares a lot of valuable knowledge and insights for communities that want their public utilities to get into the act.

Todd Christell gives an overview of Springnet's successes, including the introduction of a 1-gig service, and details on how they continue to capture new opportunities while fending off various challenges. He also discusses progress public utilities in general are making in broadband, and possible reasons private utilities continue to shun offering this service. 

Christell reveals a novel way Springnet maintains its marketing edge - teenagers. He brought teens into the earlier planning process and took their input very seriously because, "they are the future. They understand this stuff better than we old folks do." Springnet widend its youth lens by teaming with 1Million Cups, Mid-America Technology Alliance and its City2City Connecting Gigabit Cities Hackathon to reach young entrepreneurs. Communities need to listen carefully to this because it's hard to argue with success.