FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hershman Bill Leads to Major Broadband Announcement
AT&T Plans DSL Build Out to All Exchanges
(STATEHOUSE) AT&T announced plans to bring high-speed internet to more than 30 rural communities throughout the state within a year, thanks to a telecommunications reform act authored by State Senator Brandt Hershman (R-Wheatfield). Senator Hershman was joined by Governor Mitch Daniels, Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman, Rep. Mike Murphy, and AT&T Indiana president George Fleetwood for the announcement.
As of today, AT&T Indiana provides DSL service to some 46 rural communities across the state with populations under 10,000. Through this initiative, known as “High Speed to the Heartland”, AT&T will bring new service to two counties Hershman represents: Kirklin and Michigantown in Clinton County and Otterbein in Tippecanoe County .
The company will also build out to the rural areas of: Andrews, Bruceville, Bellmore, Boswell, Chrisney, Dana, Dugger, Elizabethtown , Flat Rock, Heltonville, Jasonville, Kingman, Lagro, Lake Village , Mechanicsburg, Mellott, Marshall , Montezuma, New Market, New Washington, Otterbein, Paragon, Rosedale, Shelby , Solitude, Sandridge, Spencerville, Stewart, Tennyson, West Lebanon and Waynetown.
Hershman said opponents of House Enrolled Act 1279 had only a few concerns and the biggest one was addressed today.
“During the debate, people wondered if rural areas would see any benefit from telecommunications reform,” Hershman said. “I think the answer is clear. Deregulation is bringing the latest technologies and competitive prices even to our smallest towns.”
HEA 1279 offered deregulation incentives to companies who expanded the availability of high-speed internet. AT&T is the first to announce they will take advantage of those opportunities. More announcements are expected in the future.
AT&T Indiana president George Fleetwood said before the bill passed, the company planned on bringing DSL to only two of the 33 communities it is now committing to because of Hershman's bill. Hershman says moves such as these will bring new opportunities to rural areas.
“ Indiana 's small towns will no longer be isolated,” Hershman said. “Not only will they be connected to the rest of the state, they'll be connected to the rest of the world. Hopefully, this can spur economic development in areas that desperately need it.”
State Senator Brandt Hershman represents District 7, which includes Jasper, White, Carroll, Tippecanoe, Clinton , and Howard counties .
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