AT&T Launches Low-Income Broadband Program Flowing From FCC DirecTV Condition
AT&T said it's offering affordable wireline Internet access to low-income households in its 21 wireline states, under an "Access from AT&T" program that grew out of an FCC transaction condition. Qualifying households can obtain the fastest of three speed tiers…
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-- 10 Mbps, 5 Mbps or 3 Mbps -- available at their address, with 5-10 Mbps costing $10 per month, and 3 Mbps costing $5 per month, the telco said in a release Friday. AT&T will waive installation and Internet equipment fees but additional taxes and fees may apply to households, which must have a least one resident participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Participants for the next month will have a monthly data allowance of 150 GB or 250 GB, depending on the specific service, but starting on May 23, the monthly allowances will be 150 GB, 300 GB or 600 GB, with overage charges of $10 for each extra 50 GB (or part thereof) used. Access from AT&T (further here) will be available through April 2020. An AT&T Digital You portal provides additional resources for users. As one of several conditions for approving AT&T's purchase of DirecTV (see 1507280043), the FCC adopted an order July 24 that required AT&T to begin a program within nine months to substantially increase broadband adoption among low-income households in its wireline footprint. AT&T is to do outreach efforts to low-income people, including through $15 million in public service announcements and coordination with school and community-based groups. Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, who pushed for the deal condition, emailed us the following response: “Our noble goal of connecting communities with affordable broadband alternatives, will ultimately be realized through targeted and innovative initiatives, both public and private. This is why I am pleased to witness the launch of Access from AT&T, an affordable broadband option. ... I look forward to seeing how this program helps to close the opportunity divide by getting more consumers and communities connected to high speed Internet services.”