AT&T To Extend Broadband To 81,000 Rural Tennessee Customers, Using a mix of broadband wireless and traditional facilities, AT&T will deliver up to 10/1 Mbps broadband speeds.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — AT&T says it will expand broadband Internet connection to more than 81,000 homes and businesses in rural Tennessee within six years.
RELATED STORY:
AT&T Inc. Is Teaming Up With the U.S. Government to Expand Smart Cities
Multiple media outlets report that the telecommunications giant announced Wednesday that it will use $26 million from telephone universal access fees to extend its broadband service.
The funding comes from the federal Connect America Fund, which will allow AT&T to deploy broadband connections where market forces and economics do not support such expansion.
Joining fellow large telcos CenturyLink, Frontier and CenturyLink, AT&T accepted a total of $427 million in CAF-II funding, enabling it bring wireline, wireless broadband to rural areas in 18 states.
The service provider will meet the commitments of the CAF II program using a mix of traditional wireline and wireless technologies. In the case of wireless, AT&T will construct new wireless towers in previously unserved areas.
Using a mix of broadband wireless and traditional wireline facilities, AT&T will deliver up to 10/1 Mbps broadband speeds.
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development official Amy New says the increased connectivity is vital for residents and should lead to an increase in investment in their communities.
