EVANSVILLE — Around 20,000 customers in unincorporated Vanderburgh County now have access to AT&T fiber internet.
It's been a year since the first customers joined the network, and today the county, along with AT&T, announced the completion of the $39 million dollar project.
Vanderburgh County Commissioners President Cheryl Musgrave said the project was completed on time and on budget.
“It was just two years ago that we signed our contract with AT&T," she said. "Fast forward to today, and we’re celebrating all of the positive things that high-speed broadband is bringing to our community.”
The project came to fruition with a combination of dollars from the county and AT&T. The county contributed $9.9 million in American Rescue Plan Act money, and the remaining $29.7 million was handled by AT&T.
According to an AT&T news release, Vanderburgh County's public-private broadband project is the first AT&T has completed since federal funds were made available to beginning in 2020.
Indiana Farm Bureau President Randy Kron hosted the announcement at his family farm, and said broadband is a needed for every part of modern life.
"Farm families and agricultural businesses are no exception. Now that our unincorporated areas have access to fiber connectivity, farmers will be able to implement precision technology and advanced analytics that can make our farmers more productive, efficient and sustainable," he said. "Children will have the ability to join virtual classrooms. Our neighbors will be able to access telemedicine. This is truly a game-changing advancement.”
As a part of the project's completion, AT&T is contributing $50,000 to the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. Foundation to help fund digital literacy training and the distribution of 400 free refurbished laptops for families and students.
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