AT&T has announced the completion of its $4.4 million public-private project aimed at expanding broadband access in Boonville. Over 4,000 new customer locations now have access to fiber-powered broadband.
The collaboration between AT&T and the City of Boonville exemplifies the telecom giant’s commitment to working with local governments to enhance broadband access. City officials utilized federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2020 to implement the fiber broadband expansion. The agreement, signed in July 2022, saw Boonville contributing nearly $1 million in public funds, with AT&T covering the remaining $3.4 million.
Boonville Mayor Charlie Wyatt expressed his gratitude, stating, “AT&T committed to completing this high-speed broadband project across the city on time and on budget, and that’s just what they did. And because they’ve been such a great collaborator, more than 4,000 homes, farms, and businesses will now have the connectivity they need to be successful.”
AT&T Indiana President Bill Soards echoed these sentiments, saying, “We’re so appreciative that the City trusted us with this transformative project. Indiana communities, both small and large, deserve this kind of fiber connectivity.”
As part of its nationwide commitment to bridging the digital divide, AT&T is distributing free refurbished laptops in Boonville. Collaborating with nonprofit Boonville Now, the initiative aims to provide digital literacy resources to students and families in the Warrick County School Corporation.
The laptops, funded by an AT&T donation to Compudopt, are helping selected area residents participate in the digital world. To date, AT&T and Compudopt have distributed nearly 120 laptops to Boonville area residents.
Jim Miller, Executive Director of Boonville Now, expressed gratitude, saying, “This is the second time in less than a year that AT&T has jumped in to help our community with connected devices.”
AT&T’s experience in deploying fiber-optics across Indiana was highlighted, with over 570,000 locations in the state having access to AT&T Fiber as of Q3 2023. The completion of public-private fiber builds in Vanderburgh County and ongoing partnerships with other Indiana communities underscore AT&T’s commitment to expanding broadband internet access.
Between 2020 and 2022, AT&T invested over $1.1 billion in its wireless and wireline networks in Indiana, expanding coverage and improving connectivity in numerous communities. This substantial investment has increased coverage and performance for both residents and businesses in the state.
