AT&T announced the successful completion of its $39 million public-private fiber build in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, marking a significant milestone in expanding high-speed broadband access in the region.
The broadband project, initiated just over a year ago, has brought AT&T Fiber to approximately 20,000 customer locations in unincorporated parts of the county, effectively contributing to the reduction of the digital divide.
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, expressed the importance of the new connectivity, stating, “With fiber broadband like this now covering the community, our residents, business owners, and farmers are able to get things done smarter and faster, and that equates to a big boost to our quality of life.”
As part of its commitment to addressing digital disparities, AT&T has pledged a $50,000 contribution to the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation Foundation. This funding will support digital literacy training and the distribution of 400 free refurbished laptops to families and students, further bridging the digital divide in the community.
The collaboration between AT&T and Vanderburgh County showcases a successful public-private partnership, leveraging federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2020. Vanderburgh County contributed $9.9 million in public funds to the project, with AT&T covering the remaining $29.7 million. Notably, this is the first public-private broadband project that AT&T has completed from start to finish since federal funds became available in 2020.
The Vanderburgh County project addresses a crucial aspect of the digital divide by providing fiber broadband to a largely rural area, benefiting farmers and agribusinesses. The initiative aligns with estimates suggesting that nearly 25 percent of U.S. farmers lack access to the internet, with reliable broadband connectivity potentially enhancing crop yields and profitability.
Indiana Farm Bureau President Randy Kron, hosting AT&T’s announcement on his family farm, emphasized the significance of broadband in modern agriculture. “Now that our unincorporated areas have access to fiber connectivity, farmers will be able to implement precision technology and advanced analytics that can make our farmers more productive, efficient, and sustainable.”
Vanderburgh County Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave commended the completion of the project, stating, “This was a large public-private project for our county, so I’m pleased that it was completed on time and on budget. It’s a celebration of all the positive things that high-speed broadband is bringing to our community.”
AT&T, with extensive experience deploying fiber-optics across Indiana, continues its commitment to expanding broadband access in the state. More than 570,000 locations in Indiana currently have access to AT&T Fiber. The company is actively engaged in collaborations with Lawrence County, the City of Boonville, the City of Martinsville, and Delaware County, aiming to bring AT&T Fiber to those communities.
AT&T Indiana President Bill Soards highlighted the company’s expertise and resources in deploying large-scale fiber projects. “We’re so grateful to have had a collaborator like Vanderburgh County in this effort to help bridge the digital divide in Indiana.”
AT&T Fiber, delivering speeds of up to 5 Gbps, offers consumers consistently fast speeds paired with network reliability. The service supports home, work, and family life, with straightforward pricing, no annual contracts, data caps, equipment fees, or price increases at 12 months. AT&T’s commitment to internet security is evident with the inclusion of AT&T ActiveArmor 24/7 proactive internet security in all plans.
AT&T remains dedicated to connecting more Americans to reliable, high-speed broadband internet through network expansion, upgrades, and participation in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP provides eligible households with a benefit of up to $30 a month to reduce the cost of broadband service, applicable to AT&T Fiber and Access from AT&T.
To sign up for service or inquire about eligibility for the Affordable Connectivity Program, individuals can visit att.com/getacp, go to their local AT&T store, or call 866-986-0963, with the ACP application ID handy.
