ORLANDO, FLa. – AT&T is planning to expand its fiber network and increase internet access to thousands of homes and businesses in Orlando in an effort to bring affordability to parts of the city where it may not exist, including Pine Hills.
AT&T announced Monday that it was bringing AT&T Fiber to nearly 5,000 homes and businesses in the Orlando area, including nearly 1,000 customers in Pine Hills. The move would allow customers in those areas to access speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second.
“A part of closing the digital divide is expanding access,” said Dan Pollock, regional director of External And Legislative Affairs for AT&T.
According to the Indicators of Broadband Need map produced by the U.S. Department of Commerce, 10.3% of Orange County homes are without internet access. Some parts of the county, including parts of the Pine Hills area, see at least 30% of homes without internet access.
The area is also considered a high-poverty community, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, with 43% of households below the poverty level.
AT&T joined the Heart of Florida United Way and many local, state and federal leaders to also let residents know they can also apply for the federal Affordable Connectivity Program too, which gives eligible low-income families the chance to receive free internet service. Qualifying is generally based on income and if you’re eligible for government programs for example.
“Unfortunately, only 34% of eligible households in Florida have taken advantage today,” Pollock said.
Jerry Dennis lives in Pine Hills with his wife and four kids.
“We should benefit from that. So it’s a good idea,” Dennis said. “That sounds very good because there are a lot of people who don’t have the opportunity to have internet.”
For perspective, News 6 asked Orange County leaders more about internet access across the county, and they told us about 1,400 homes in east Orange County, including Bithlo, Christmas, and parts of South Apopka don’t have internet.
This month, the Experience Christian Center in Pine Hills teamed up with the Action Church in Seminole county and a federal program to give out more than 30,000 wifi-enabled tablets to families.
Anyone who needs affordable internet access can take part in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides up to $30 a month to reduce the cost of internet access. The offset would make some AT&T internet access plans free for customers.
Other programs are available that provide free or affordable internet access in Central Florida.
Residents can find out more here.
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