AT&T completed the broadband network for underserved locations in Georgia

AT&T announced it completed a first wave of Fixed Wireless Internet availability for rural and underserved locations in Georgia. This is part of our FCC Connect America Fund commitment to serve over 400,000 locations by the end of 2017 and over 1.1 million locations by 2020.

The work in Georgia is expanding to 17 more states this year. Those additional 17 states are: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

The Fixed Wireless Internet delivers a home internet connection with download speeds of at least 10Mbps. The connection comes from a wireless tower to a fixed antenna on customers’ homes or businesses. This is a cost-effective way to deliver high-quality, high-speed internet to customers living in rural and underserved areas.

“Access to the internet is an important tool for advancing opportunities in communities.  It creates economic growth, helps increase community engagement and makes education accessible,” said Eric Boyer, senior vice president, Wireless and Wired Product Marketing at AT&T.  “We’re committed to utilizing available technologies to connect hard-to-reach locations.”

“AT&T’s Fixed Wireless Internet service is a great example of the innovative thinking necessary to bring high-speed internet to rural and under-served communities,” said Betsy Huber, president of the National Grange. “When you consider that farmers, ranchers and other rural residents are also small business owners, the need for high-speed internet becomes obvious.  This is a milestone in communications services for rural and small-town America.”

AT&T plans to reach over 67,000 locations with this technology across Georgia by 2020.