Urban Broadband Innovation

The City of Memphis’ Smart Memphis Fiber project represents one of the most innovative and consequential municipal broadband initiatives in the United States. Through a creative public-private partnership model that was approved by the City in 2024, Memphis has secured citywide fiber competition (meaning residents will have more than one high-speed internet provider to choose from) and a commitment to delivering fiber service to low-income neighborhoods. In doing so, Memphis has positioned itself to become one of the most fiber-connected cities in America. What makes Memphis’ success so remarkable is the context in which it was achieved. Memphis is a city where economic challenges are real and persistent. Yet City leaders recognized that accepting the status quo—where fiber investment flows only to areas with the highest disposable incomes—would perpetuate the challenges.

[Joanne Hovis is President and CEO of CTC Technology and Energy. For more than 25 years, she has advised state and local governments in the development of collaborations with the private sector to address broadband and connectivity needs. In the past few years, she has led CTC teams that have advised more than a dozen states on BEAD, ARPA, middle-mile, and other broadband planning.]