About Lake Oconee news. (Greensboro, GA) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (May 5, 2017)
Page A10 Lake Oconee News Friday, May 5,2017 T. Michael Stone/Staff State Senator Burt Jones credited local leadership in Morgan County for being chosen as one of the first communities to receive AT&T's new service. T. Michael Stone/Staff State Representative Dave Belton said that rural counties have lost population since World War II but that the new service will help close the connectivity gap for rural Georgians. Wireless Continued from A1 that rural communities are not left behind, and I will continue working with the private sector to extend the high-speed connectivi ty that Georgians want.” Morgan County’s representative in the House was delighted with the news as well. “Today’s announcement offers a good example of the kinds of in novative approaches we need to encourage to extend high-speed internet to rural areas,” said State Representative Dave Belton. “I am glad to see this increased con nectivity in Morgan County, and I look forward to the continuing work ahead to help close rural Georgia’s remaining connectivity gap.” Our lead paragraph is a face tious one, of course, but residents in rural parts of Morgan County have long clamored for improved internet access, with teachers and parents of school-age children perhaps crying the loudest. The new AT&T service will allow users in underserved rural areas to access the internet with download speeds of 10 megabytes per second. The improved connection transmits from a wireless tower to a fixed antenna on a customer’s home or business. AT&T says this is cost effective way to deliver high-quality high speed internet to customers living in rural areas where installing miles and miles of cable might be cost prohibitive. The new service is a result of a AT&T’s participation in the Federal Communications Com mission’s (FCC) Connect America Fund, a $1.5 billion reform initia tive aimed at giving 23 million Americans in rural areas viable and affordable internet access, ac cording to fiercewireless.com. Hayes said AT&T plans to reach more than 67,000 locations with the technology across Georgia by 2020 and will begin to deploy the service later this year in 17 other states. “Senator Jones, Rep. Belton,and our area elected officials have consistently fought for increased access to high-speed internet in Morgan County, and it is encour aging to see some of the products of those efforts,” said Bob Hughes, president of the Morgan County Chamber of Commerce. “Their appreciation of this community need is vital to ensuring that we continue to move forward in a positive direction and continue working to extend the high-speed connectivity that the residents and businesses in Morgan County need.” A second press conference was held last Tuesday to announce that Greene County will also be among the first Georgia counties to benefit from the project. “The Tower by quail inter national is almost ready to go [Highway] 15 south,” State Repre sentative Trey Rhodes said. “Only 19 communities in the country and we have two here. Putnam will hopefully be soon and we will get additional towers in the future.” AT&T is required by its agree ment with the FCC to make the service available to 40 percent of the 67,000 locations by the end of 2017. “While I can’t speak to future locations, our teams continue to work quickly to make this service available, and we anticipate a number of announcements in the coming weeks and months,” Hayes said. AT&T plans to reach more than 1.1 million locations overall with fixed wireless broadband by 2020. “The more than 19,000 men and women who work for AT&T and call Georgia home are working every day to turn our investments into the high-speed connectivity that Georgia’s res idents and businesses demand,” said Bill Leahy, president of AT&T Georgia. “Through this innovative service, we are further closing the remaining connectivity gap in rural Georgia.” The price schedule for the service when it become available is listed below: • Internet-only: With a one-year contract, FWI stand-alone will be offered for $60 a month. Without a contract, or after the contract period, the price will be $70 per month. • Bundled: With a one-year contract, when bundled with either DIRECTV or AT&T wireless, FWI will cost $50 a month as long as the customer has the other service. Without a contract, FWI can be bundled with either DIRECTV or AT&T wireless for $60 as long as the customer has the other service. • There is no separate equipment fee. There is a $99 installation fee for FWI when purchased either standalone or with a wireless plan. It is waived if pur chased with DIRECTV. • A charge of $10/50GB applies for usage in excess of 160GB of data per month. _ SS HARGRAY dreambuilt THE^GLEN P Health < 706.467.6000 £ O info@opas.org C www.opas.org Reynolds AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY Alfttfl* BMW Champion League: Tammy and Jim Beatty, Dien and Buddy Clarke, Leslie and Skip Flint, Kathryn and Ray Handlan OPAS OCONEE PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY THE MUSICAL LEGACY OF CHICAGO OCONEE DRIVING RANGE, REYNOLDS LAKE OCONEE Tickets on sale: Members: April 24 / Public: May I Join us for a summer celebration with all the hits from Chicago's golden age Onsite parking not available. Free shuttle service provided. Bring chairs or blankets for outdoor lawn seating. 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