  We study Renyi entropies $S_n$ in quantum error correcting codes and compare
the answer to the cosmic brane prescription for computing $\widetilde{S}_n
\equiv n^2 \partial_n (\frac{n-1}{n} S_n)$. We find that general operator
algebra codes have a similar, more general prescription. Notably, for the
AdS/CFT code to match the specific cosmic brane prescription, the code must
have maximal entanglement within eigenspaces of the area operator. This gives
us an improved definition of the area operator, and establishes a stronger
connection between the Ryu-Takayanagi area term and the edge modes in lattice
gauge theory. We also propose a new interpretation of existing holographic
tensor networks as area eigenstates instead of smooth geometries. This
interpretation would explain why tensor networks have historically had trouble
modeling the Renyi entropy spectrum of holographic CFTs, and it suggests a
method to construct holographic networks with the correct spectrum.
