AT&T Continues to Help Close Digital Divide in Boonville with Completion of Fiber-Powered Broadband Project and Connected Devices

AT&T announced today that it has completed its $4.4 million public-private project to expand broadband access in Boonville, and more than 4,000 new customer locations now have access to fiber-powered broadband to help close the digital divide.

This public-private collaboration is an example of AT&T's work with local governments looking to expand broadband access. City of Boonville officials used federal funds made available by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2020 to bring fiber broadband to the area. Under the agreement signed in July 2022, Boonville contributed nearly $1 million in public funds to the project and AT&T covered the remaining $3.4 million.

"It's hard to believe this day is already here," said Boonville Mayor Charlie Wyatt. "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 business will now have the connectivity they need to be successful."

"We're so appreciative that the City trusted us with this transformative project," said AT&T Indiana President Bill Soards. "Indiana communities both small and large deserve this kind of fiber connectivity. We're excited to continue to work with Hoosier cities, towns and counties to make that happen."

Bridging the Digital Divide with Connected Devices

Also today, free refurbished laptops are being distributed in Boonville as part of AT&T’s nationwide commitment to help bridge the digital divide.

AT&T is working with local nonprofit Boonville Now to provide the laptops and other digital literacy resources to students and families in the Warrick County School Corporation. The laptops, funded by an AT&T donation to Compudopt, are being distributed to pre-selected area residents to help them fully participate in our digital world. AT&T and Compudopt have distributed nearly 120 laptops to Boonville area residents since last summer.

"This is the second time in less than a year that AT&T has jumped in to help our community with connected devices," said Boonville Now Executive Director Jim Miller. "Thanks to their generosity, more of our local residents will now be better able to do their jobs, communicate with their health care providers or do their homework. It's such a wonderful gift."

The laptop distribution is part of the AT&T Connected Learning® initiative, AT&T’s companywide commitment to help address the digital divide through internet accessibility, affordability and safe adoption. In Boonville, it’s estimated that more than 1,100 K-12 students¹ don’t have access to the internet, computers or skills needed at home to benefit from the online world, an issue known as the digital divide.

AT&T has extensive experience deploying fiber-optics across Indiana. In fact, as of Q3 2023, more than 570,000 locations in the state have access to AT&T Fiber. AT&T also recently completed its public-private fiber build in Vanderburgh County, and is currently working with the City of Martinsville, Lawrence County and Delaware County on public-private partnerships to bring AT&T Fiber to those communities. In addition, AT&T is collaborating with the State of Indiana through the state’s Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program to build fiber networks in parts of nine counties.

AT&T Fiber, now delivering speeds of up to 5-Gigs², is truly internet that upgrades everything. Offering consumers consistently fast speeds³ paired with network reliability, AT&T Fiber supports the powerfully interconnected home, work and family life. Our straightforward pricing eliminates annual contracts, data caps, equipment fees and price increases at 12 months, for all new customers. Plus, AT&T ActiveArmor^SM 24/7 proactive internet security is included with all plans and helps block malicious threats from ever reaching your devices.⁴ AT&T All-Fi is also included for a powerful connection you can rely on, including our best Wi-Fi, unlimited data and an easy app.

Residents and businesses can learn more about AT&T Fiber at fiber.att.com.

AT&T is committed to connecting more Americans to reliable, high-speed broadband internet in several ways, including expanding and upgrading our network and participating in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP provides eligible households with a benefit of up to $30 a month (up to $75 a month on qualifying Tribal lands⁷) to reduce the cost of broadband service and can be applied to AT&T Fiber, where available. Or use it toward Access from AT&T, offering speeds up to 100Mbps for $0 after the ACP benefit is applied. After confirming ACP eligibility, those who qualify can go to att.com/getacp, visit their local AT&T store or call us at 866-986-0963 to sign up for service. Have your ACP application ID handy.

About AT&T in Indiana

From 2020-2022, AT&T invested more than $1.1 billion in its wireless and wireline networks in Indiana to expand coverage and improve connectivity in more communities. That investment has increased reliability, coverage and overall performance for residents and businesses. It’s also improved critical communications services for Indiana’s first responders using the FirstNet network.

Delivering a Better Internet Experience

We aim to be America’s best broadband provider powered by the most reliable 5G network⁵ and America's favorite for fiber internet⁶ so you have a seamless experience from a single provider. Becoming the provider of choice also means serving the critical mission of America’s first responders. FirstNet®, Built with AT&T is the only purpose-built, nationwide wireless broadband communications platform dedicated to the public safety community.