• May 20, 2021

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AT&T announced it will invest $2 billion over the next three years towards closing the digital divide, a gap that exists between those with broadband connectivity and those without. AT&T’s new monetary contribution to expanding low-cost broadband services is double what they have spent over the last three years helping underserved communities.

Due the COVID-19 pandemic, the digital divide has become more apparent than ever, causing many companies and the government to devote funding and resources to help eliminate the gap of those in the U.S. that lack or are underserved with broadband.

AT&T’s goal is to provide affordable broadband through their low-cost offers and with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program. To do so, AT&T will:

• Continue efforts to offer discounted wireless to over 135,000 public and private schools, colleges, and universities.
• Maintain their 5-year long program designed to make the internet more affordable with a voluntary offer that provides a wireline internet service at $10 or less per month, including in-home Wi-Fi, with no contract or installation fee, to qualifying customers.
• Enable eligible customers to reduce their monthly broadband costs by utilizing the FCC’s EBB program, which offers more than 30 million households to receive an additional monthly subsidy of up to $50 ($75 for those on Trial lands). This can make the monthly cost of broadband as low as $0.

AT&T also announced it will use a portion of the $2 billion to launch 20 new Connected Learning Centers this year. The Connected Learning Centers will offer students an environment for digital learning, offering AT&T’s high-speed fiber internet, resources for laptops and tablets, mentorship opportunities, as well as access to WarnerMedia content and other virtual learning tools. These centers will be located in underserved communities that lack, or face issues with, connectivity.

For more information about AT&T’s plan to help close the digital divide, read their latest press release!

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Sources:

about.att.com/story/2021/digital_divide.html

fiercetelecom.com/operators/at-t-will-pump-2b-funds-toward-closing-digital-divide