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AT&T makes $2B commitment to help bridge digital divideBroadband World News, , 4/14/2021
DALLAS – What's the news? Today, AT&T announced it will invest $2 billion over the next 3 years to help address the digital divide. This renewed commitment to the communities we serve combines AT&T's low-cost broadband service offerings with community investment. And it builds on the company's contribution of $1 billion over the last 3 years toward helping the nation's most vulnerable communities. We're dedicated to doing our part to bring affordability, educational resources, and economic opportunity to the millions of Americans who don't have broadband connectivity today. "We believe that broadband connectivity is essential for all Americans," said John Stankey, CEO, AT&T. "Our broadband networks rose to the challenge of the pandemic in part due to policies that promoted private sector investment in multiple technologies and networks. AT&T is investing in and expanding the reach of our broadband networks while also advocating for effective and sustainable public policies that help close this country's digital divide." How will we do this? Expanding affordable broadband through AT&T's low-cost offers and the Emergency Broadband Benefit program administered by the FCC
The EBB can be applied to eligible home internet services like Access from AT&T or AT&T Internet, available within our 21-state wireline footprint. Or it can be applied toward eligible postpaid or prepaid wireless plans at AT&T, AT&T PREPAID and Cricket Wireless, which are available in all 50 states. Once customers verify that they are eligible, we'll apply the benefit to their service until the EBB ends. The uniform program start date is pending an FCC announcement. "We tip our hat to Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel for her leadership in making the Emergency Broadband Benefit available to more than 30 million households," Stankey said. "The EBB is a great first step in addressing affordability in the short term. We continue to encourage Congress to work on more permanent solutions with sustainable funding so that all Americans can have access to affordable broadband." Last week, AT&T joined nearly 50 advocacy organizations, companies, and non-profit groups setting out the guiding principles for Congress and the Biden Administration as it debates the specifics for the American Jobs Plan. We urged policy makers to enact sustainable, effective broadband policies that have proven to build the most resilient broadband networks, create jobs and empower opportunities for all Americans. "The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the broadband challenges we have been fighting to resolve for years," said Marc Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League. "We applaud AT&T's recent efforts to ensure that all people – and especially historically unserved and underserved communities — can access affordable, reliable broadband internet." Read the full press release here. |
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Wednesday, April 20, 2022
12:00 p.m. New York Did you know that fiber network expansion is the top priority of service providers over the next five years according to Heavy Reading’s recently published State of the Service Provider Report*? With this rapid expansion comes increased competition. Like many service providers, you may be feeling the pressure to differentiate your brand. Service innovation is your opportunity to stand out.
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