Fiber Impact Series
Fiber Doesn’t Just Connect People. It Creates Jobs.
Communities that invest in fiber-optic infrastructure see measurable gains in employment, business investment, and tax revenue. Here’s what the research shows, and what it means for yours.
Charlottesville
35%
of Charlottesville, VA’s private sector job growth (2015–2019) was attributed to fiber broadband availability.[1]
Hamilton County, TN
9,516
jobs created or retained in Hamilton County, TN over a decade — roughly 40% of all new jobs in the county.[2]
Chattanooga
$2.69B
in total community economic benefit from Chattanooga’s fiber network in its first 10 years, on a $220M investment.2
Research-Backed Evidence
Two communities. Measurable results.
The economic benefits of fiber aren’t hypothetical. Independent research from universities and industry associations has documented concrete outcomes in communities of different sizes.
Charlottesville, VA
Pop. ~48,000 | Fiber build started 2014
A 2025 case study by the Fiber Broadband Association found that fiber deployment in Charlottesville accounted for roughly 35% of private sector job growth between 2015 and 2019, adding approximately 735 new jobs. Growth was strongest in professional, scientific, and technical services -- the exact sectors communities compete for.
The study also found an average annual increase of $4 million in aggregate housing values linked to fiber availability, expanding the local tax base. Charlottesville ranked well above peer Virginia cities in Digital Micro Business Density, a metric that tracks online small business formation.
Chattanooga, TN (Hamilton County)
Pop. ~180,000 | Fiber launched 2010
An independent study by Dr. Bento Lobo at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga found that EPB's community-wide fiber network directly supported the creation and retention of 9,516 jobs over its first decade -- about 40% of all jobs created in Hamilton County during that period.
The total documented economic benefit reached $2.69 billion on a $220 million build investment, a return factor of more than 4x. Hamilton County entrepreneurs raised $1.2 billion in equity investment and crowdfunding during the study period, with $244 million attributed to fiber infrastructure. The county's unemployment rate consistently ran below both state and national averages.
The Mechanisms
Three ways fiber drives employment
Fiber doesn’t create jobs in the abstract. There are specific, observable pathways through which high-speed connectivity translates into employment gains.
Site selection and business recruitment
When companies evaluate where to locate or expand, connectivity infrastructure ranks alongside energy reliability and workforce availability as a deciding factor. This is especially true for advanced manufacturing, logistics, data-driven agriculture, and any company with remote or hybrid employees.
Communities without fiber are often eliminated from consideration before the first site visit. Communities with fiber compete on a level playing field with larger metros, keeping high-paying employers within reach of smaller cities and rural areas.
Remote work and talent retention
Fiber lets residents work for employers anywhere without leaving their community. Every remote salary that stays local flows into restaurants, retail, property taxes, and school funding. Without reliable high-speed connectivity, those residents -- and their income -- relocate.
Research by the Center on Rural Innovation found that rural counties with high broadband adoption experienced significantly faster business growth and higher GDP gains compared to similar areas without adequate connectivity.[3] Chattanooga was recognized by Zillow as the top U.S. metro for remote work, directly tied to its fiber infrastructure.[2]
Entrepreneurship and small business formation
Fiber lowers the barrier to starting and running a business. Cloud tools, e-commerce platforms, video conferencing, and digital payment processing all depend on fast, symmetrical connectivity. In areas with fiber access, research shows increased new business formation, particularly among microbusinesses with fewer than 10 employees.
A 2024 study across eight states found that areas introduced to gigabit-speed broadband saw more new business formation than otherwise-similar areas that only received 100 Mbps service.[1] Faster speeds didn't just help existing businesses -- they enabled new ones.
Community Impact
What this means for cities,
towns, and counties
The research tells a consistent story: fiber is infrastructure that pays for itself. Here’s how the documented benefits translate to the kinds of communities across Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan.
Broader tax base without raising rates
Nationally cited research found homes with fiber access sell for up to 3.1% more than comparable homes without it.[4] In Charlottesville, fiber contributed over $35 million in added housing value between 2015 and 2023.[1] Higher property values expand the tax base that funds schools, public safety, and local infrastructure.
Competitive for business relocation
Site selectors for manufacturing, logistics, and tech companies screen for broadband capacity before shortlisting locations. A community with gigabit fiber shows up on the list. One relying on legacy DSL or cable often doesn't, regardless of other strengths like workforce availability or cost of living.
Retaining young professionals and families
Younger workers increasingly choose where to live first, then find remote or hybrid employment. Communities without reliable high-speed internet lose this demographic to metros that have it. Fiber gives residents the option to stay, work remotely, and contribute to the local economy rather than leave for connectivity.
ROI that compounds over time
Chattanooga's $220 million fiber build generated $2.69 billion in economic benefit over a decade -- a return of more than 12x.[2] Unlike road or bridge projects that depreciate, fiber networks appreciate in utility as digital adoption grows. The infrastructure becomes more valuable each year, not less.
"Broadband infrastructure plays a critical role in economic development, and Surf’s investment in Grant County supports our efforts to connect residents, students, and businesses across the region. We appreciate their commitment to being part of this community for the long haul."
Chuck Binkerd
Executive Director, Economic Growth Council,
Grant County, IN
"Surf has been a consistent presence in our broadband efforts. Their boots-on-the-ground approach, community involvement, and investment in rural Whitley County make them a natural partner in closing our digital divide."
Theresa Baysinger
Commissioner,
Whitley County, IN
"For communities our size, infrastructure like this makes all the difference. Fiber internet keeps us competitive with larger cities, while making sure our residents and businesses don’t have to leave town to find the opportunities they deserve."
Chuck Steele
Mayor,
Momence, IL
"We are excited to welcome Surf Internet to the Sparta community. Having additional reliable, high-speed internet options is a great benefit for both our residents and our businesses. We are pleased to have Surf Internet as a valued member of our business community and wish them much success here in Sparta."
Jim Lower
Village Manager,
Sparta, MI
"Expanding reliable and affordable access to the internet is essential to the citizens of Porter County. Through expansion of their infrastructure and enhancements to their network, Surf has been heavily investing in Porter County."
Jesse Butz
Director, Porter County Public Library System,
Portage, IN
"On behalf of the City of Howell, I’m very happy to welcome Surf Internet to our community. They will expand high-speed fiber internet throughout the county, enhancing our quality of life and helping in our efforts to attract new residents and businesses to the area."
Bob Ellis
Mayor,
Howell, MI
The Fiber Impact Series
Explore the full impact of fiber on communities
Ready to explore what fiber can do
for your community?
Talk with Surf’s community development team about partnership models, deployment timelines, and how fiber infrastructure can support your local economic growth goals.