NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Reflecting the company's long-standing commitment to deploying high-speed Internet access in urban and rural areas across the state, AT&T has committed to extend broadband to more than 81,000 rural homes and businesses in Tennessee over the next six years.
"I am pleased that AT&T Tennessee will use $26 million annually, for the coming six years, to provide new high speed Internet at 81,000 rural homes and businesses in Tennessee," said Joelle Phillips, president of AT&T in Tennessee. "AT&T Tennessee has been investing in our state for more than 135 years. We are pleased to add these Connect America Fund resources to continue bringing high-speed Internet services to more Tennesseans."
Understanding that broadband deployment in some remote areas is not economically viable, in late 2011, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) modernized its Universal Service program, which accrues through charges on telephone customer bills, to support networks capable of providing broadband and voice services.
It created the Connect America Fund (CAF) to expand broadband in rural areas where market forces and economics do not support expansion.
AT&T has elected to participate in the second phase of the CAF program in Tennessee, committing to deploy broadband to more than 81,000 rural homes and businesses in rural areas that the FCC has targeted after studying broadband availability. AT&T Tennessee will receive more than $26 million annually over the next six years, to help meet this commitment in the State. Other carriers in Tennessee have also committed to expand rural broadband through the CAF program, resulting in a combined total of more than $29 million annually for each of the next six years.
"Connectivity to broadband is essential in today's economy, and this additional deployment of high-speed Internet in rural areas will make communities across the state more attractive to future investment," said Amy New, Assistant Commissioner for Rural Development with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
As part of this deployment, AT&T will deliver broadband at speeds of at least 10 Megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 1 Mbps for uploads.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, mobile, high speed Internet and voice services. We're the world's largest provider of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. In the U.S., our wireless network offers the nation's strongest LTE signal and the most reliable 4G LTE network. We offer the best global wireless coverage*. And we help businesses worldwide serve their customers better with our mobility and secure cloud solutions.
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Reliability and signal strength claims based on nationwide carriers' LTE. Signal strength claim based ONLY on avg. LTE signal strength. LTE not available everywhere.
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SOURCE AT&T Inc.
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