Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – AT&T announced the completion of two public-private projects with Lawrence County to expand AT&T Fiber access to rural portions of the county. The announcement was made Wednesday during an event at the Downtown Depot in Bedford.
Through these projects, more than 3,600 homes, farms and businesses in rural Lawrence County now have access to high-speed AT&T Fiber, according to a news release. Within the city of Bedford, AT&T Fiber is also now available to more than 3,000 homes and businesses. These efforts – developed in cooperation with Lawrence County community leaders – are helping bridge the digital divide for families and businesses across the region.
AT&T Indiana President Bill Soards also announced that, in partnership with the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council and Human-I-T, AT&T has donated 100 refurbished laptops to be distributed through local community partners to families in need.
Perry and Steven Deckard. (Photo courtesy Lawrence County Economic Growth Council)
“Each laptop represents opportunity – a student completing homework, a parent applying for a new job, or a senior connecting with loved ones. When we expand access to technology, we strengthen our schools, our workforce, and our entire community,” said Dan Bortner, CEO of the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council.
Speakers at the event included State Sen. Eric Koch, Lawrence County Commissioner Rodney Fish, Bortner and local residents Sara Clardy (a recipient from last year’s distribution) and Steven Deckard (a recipient from this year’s program).
During the event, Soards presented Fish with a section of fiber optic cable as a symbol of the critical infrastructure – often unseen – that makes today’s connectivity possible. He also recognized the contractors and AT&T employees whose work brought these projects to completion.
“Today, we’re proud to do what we can to close the digital divide for families and businesses in Lawrence County – and connect them to greater possibilities,” Soards said.