Page 47 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2022

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

that agreement, Vanderburgh County our community,” Musgrave added. AT&T thousands of locations in the state have
contributed $9.9 million in public funds to worked quickly to bring the benefits of access to AT&T Fiber today. AT&T is also
the project and AT&T covered the remaining fiber to Vanderburgh County residents currently working with the City of Boonville
$29.7 million. Vanderburgh County officials and businesses, with the network core and the City of Martinsville on public-
recently agreed to extend the network becoming operational only seven months private partnerships to bring AT&T Fiber
to 90 additional locations, bringing fiber after the previously announced contract to those communities. AT&T is committed
coverage to more unincorporated parts agreement was finalized. That allowed to connecting more Americans to reliable,
of the county. “If you live in a big city, you AT&T to connect the first fiber locations high-speed broadband internet in several
probably take your high-speed internet for earlier than expected. The project will be ways, including expanding and upgrading
granted. But it’s a different story in rural completed by November 2023. The new our network and participating in the federal
parts of the country,” said Cheryl Musgrave, fiber network is capable of delivering Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
commissioner, Vanderburgh County. speeds up to 5 Gbps on both upload and The ACP provides eligible households with
“Fortunately, through this collaboration with download. The faster speeds and capacity a benefit of up to $30 a month (up to $75 on
AT&T, thousands of our rural neighbors will mean customers can now connect to data qualifying Tribal lands) to reduce the cost
have a new story to tell, because they’ll also intensive online tools and applications, of broadband service and can be applied to
have access to fiber-powered broadband. deploy precision agriculture technologies all our AT&T Fiber speed tiers. Additionally,
“I’m truly excited to see the impact this and access vital education resources. AT&T you can apply your ACP benefit to Access
new connectivity will have on our schools has extensive experience deploying fiber- from AT&T to get internet speeds of up to
and families, and the economic growth of optics across Indiana. In fact, hundreds of 100Mbps, where available, for $0.

AT&T Launching Campaign to Help Close the Digital Divide

A teen writing their college essay on a urgently confront the challenges posed by of homes, schools and businesses in
mobile phone in a fast-food parking lot the digital divide, we all miss the creativity, communities that need it most. But building
because they don’t have internet at home. ingenuity and problem-solving of our peers a bridge to possibility requires us to go
A cancer patient forgoing their follow-up and neighbors. This October, as part of our beyond providing access to affordable high-
telehealth appointment due to a lack of $2 billion commitment from 2021 to 2023 speed internet. We must also demonstrate
internet connectivity in their neighborhood. to help close the digital divide, AT&T is how broadband connectivity tangibly
And a family lacking the bandwidth needed launching their Bridge to Possibility: Closing improves lives. We’ll share stories of how
to enjoy a Friday night movie together. the digital divide, together campaign. This we’re continuously tackling the challenges
These moments, and countless others, is a month-long, company-wide initiative to of access, affordability and adoption.
demonstrate the challenges of living in drive awareness of the digital divide and Working with states, Tribal governments
the digital divide — the gap between those the collective response needed to address and municipalities, we’re committed to
able to fully participate in the modern it. Building this bridge requires us to come bringing high-quality connectivity to parts
online world and those who cannot. For together across businesses, nonprofits and of the country with limited or no access,
the millions living in the digital divide government to make meaningful progress. like through our public-private partnership
across the country, this isn’t a temporary With advancements in technology, federal with Vanderburgh County, Indiana and our
inconvenience, it’s a daily reality. Left investments in broadband infrastructure ongoing work with Tribal lands. With our
unaddressed, the digital divide could and a renewed commitment to digital equity, nonprofit relationships, we’re adding to our
continue to be a chasm between the haves we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity network of Connected Learning Centers to
and have nots within our society. If we don’t to bring high-quality connectivity to millions support communities in Atlanta, Detroit,
Los Angeles and others. Connectivity
sparks possibility no matter where you are.
Additionally, thousands of AT&T employees
and our Employee Groups (EGs) will mobilize
to give back to their communities. We’ll
recognize their commitment to social good
with city celebrations where employees
will assemble 10,000 connected learning
kits for students in need and host device
distributions across the nation, along with
additional volunteer activities. Together,
with our people and our collaborators,
we are helping create healthier, stronger
communities. Our greatest impact can only
be realized when we bring the benefits of
broadband and digital access to all.

47 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2022