More than 5,000 new customer locations across the city now have access to high-speed internet

AT&T announced today that it has completed its $6.3 million public-private project to expand fiber internet access in the City of Martinsville and help close the digital divide. More than 5,000 new residential and business locations throughout the city now have access to high-speed internet.

This public-private collaboration is an example of AT&T’s work with local governments to expand internet access. Martinsville officials used local funding to bring fiber internet to the area. Under the agreement signed in September 2022, the City of Martinsville contributed nearly $725,000 in public funds to the project and AT&T covered the remaining $6.2 million.

AT&T also joined with Churches in Mission today to provide 100 free laptops to preselected families in need in Morgan County who do not have their own devices at home. The refurbished laptops were funded by AT&T in collaboration with Human-I-T.

“Today marks a significant step forward in our work to close the digital divide in the City of Martinsville,” said Martinsville Clerk Treasurer Ben Merida. “The completion of this project provides increased access to high-speed fiber internet and is a major step towards connecting all residents. We appreciate AT&T’s work to deliver this project on time, their shared commitment to our community, and their efforts to go above and beyond by donating devices to families in need.”

In Indiana, it’s estimated that 13% of households don’t have access to the internet or connected devices needed to fully participate in the online world, an issue known as the digital divide.

“We’re so grateful to have been a part of this transformative project to deliver connectivity to the City of Martinsville,” said AT&T Indiana State President Bill Soards. “Indiana communities large and small deserve this kind of fiber connectivity. The completion of our fiber build marks an important milestone in helping close the digital divide in the community. Our donation today of 100 laptops for families in need will also help connect them to greater possibilities.”

Recipients of laptops distributed by Churches in Mission will now have access to job search, obtain employment, receive telehealth services, connect with family and resources, and build the skills they need to thrive and succeed in life. “Many of the families we serve live at or below the poverty level, and they do not have the luxury of having their own personal devices at home,” said Susan Haynes, Associate Director of Churches in Mission. “These laptops are an extraordinary gift that will provide our families with the technology and connection they need to build successful lives and break free from the cycle of poverty.”

“Martinsville gains a distinct advantage today by becoming a gigabit city,” said Jamie Taylor, President & CEO of the Greater Martinsville Chamber of Commerce. “The completion of the AT&T Fiber project means small businesses and remote workers will have all the connectivity they need to prosper in Martinsville.

Residents and businesses can learn more about AT&T Fiber at att.com/fiber and can sign up to be notified when service will be available at their address at att.com/notifyme.

AT&T Fiber is America’s fastest internet with the most reliable speeds.1 AT&T Fiber delivers speeds of up to 5-Gigs2 paired with network reliability for everyday needs. Customers can connect multiple devices, stream multiple entertainment sources, quickly upload content to social media, and experience ultra-low lag for pro-level gaming – all at the same time.

Customers are always looking for a fast and consistent internet experience, and this doesn’t just mean the speed; they want a bill with no surprises. With AT&T Fiber, customers can choose from a variety of plans that all include our straightforward pricing, with no annual contract, no equipment fees, and won’t see their price increased at 12 months. In an effort to connect as many Americans to high-speed internet as possible, we also offer a low-cost fiber option with Access from AT&T, which offers speeds up to 100Mbps for $30/month plus tax and fees for eligible customers.3

AT&T Fiber in Indiana
AT&T has extensive experience deploying fiber-optics across Indiana. More than 590,000 locations in parts of more than 70 communities across the state now have access to AT&T Fiber – an increase of 140,000 locations over the last two years. In addition to the City of Martinsville, AT&T recently completed its public-private fiber builds in Vanderburgh County and Boonville. AT&T is also currently working with Delaware County and Lawrence County on public-private partnerships to bring AT&T Fiber to those communities, including four different projects within Lawrence County.

AT&T is also collaborating with the State of Indiana through the state’s Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program to build fiber networks in parts of nine counties.

From 2019-2023, AT&T invested nearly $1.9 billion in our wireless and wireline networks in Indiana to expand coverage and improve connectivity in more communities. That investment has increased reliability, coverage, and overall performance for residents and businesses. It’s also improved critical communications services for Indiana’s first responders using the FirstNet network.

FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks and service marks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

1 Limited availability in select areas. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data nationwide Speed Score, Consistency Score and average Consumer Ratings for Q1–Q2 2024. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.
2 Limited availability in select areas. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. Single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.
3 Access from AT&T is a low-cost program for home internet service to eligible limited income households. For more info, visit att.com/access.

*About AT&T
We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com.