AT&T Invests Nearly $800 Million Over Three-Year Period to Connect Local Customers in Kentucky

AT&T Blog Team
June 9, 2021
Broadband Access and Affordability, Public Safety


AT&T Invests Nearly $800 Million Over Three-Year Period to Connect Local Customers in Kentucky

AT&T is proud to connect customers across the country by continuing to grow the nation’s best network1. From 2018-2020, we expanded coverage and improved connectivity in more communities by investing nearly $800 million in our wireless and wireline networks in Kentucky.

AT&T’s commitment to communities across the country continues and spans all layers of our network—from fiber to 5G to FirstNet®. These investments are essential to connecting our customers with their family, friends and colleagues by increasing the network’s speed, reliability, coverage and overall performance.

In 2021, we are increasing our fiber footprint by 3 million customer locations across more than 90 metro areas that we currently serve, including in Kentucky. We also recently announced that AT&T will invest $2 billion over the next 3 years to help address the digital divide nationwide. AT&T further improved critical communications for Kentucky’s first responders and improved public safety with FirstNet® – America’s public safety network.

“In my time as a legislator, we have attracted and supported companies that are committed to investing in Kentucky and improving the quality of life for our citizens through innovation and expansion,” said Speaker of the House David Osborne. “AT&T’s significant investment is an example of that commitment, and with continued expansion of coverage will provide yet another tool in the Commonwealth’s effort to attract new investment.”

“As Kentuckians change how they communicate, it is vital that we continue to pursue policies that promote private investments in our networks to ensure our families and businesses have access to the technologies required in our 21st century economy,” said Senate President Robert Stivers. “With investments like AT&T’s, I am confident that the Commonwealth will keep pace with the changing market and be a competitive player in the effort to grow the economy and create jobs.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for robust and reliable communications infrastructure, for jobs, education, health care and more. Momentum has been growing daily, and Kentucky’s economy is set for liftoff,” said Governor Andy Beshear. “AT&T’s commitment to expanding wired and wireless networks across the commonwealth will further boost economic activity and workforce development across the state. The company is bringing increased broadband access to our classrooms and its partnership with state government on FirstNet is providing our first responders with improved critical communications capabilities, which benefits all Kentuckians in their time of need.”

“By continuing to improve our network at the state and local levels, we are helping businesses grow in Kentucky and helping to ensure that our customers and communities stay connected throughout the country.”

Hood Harris – President, AT&T Kentucky

“From connecting family and loved ones to helping first responders during a crisis, AT&T is committed to investing in Kentucky to build state-of-the-art infrastructure that will keep people connected,” said AT&T Kentucky President Hood Harris. “By continuing to improve our network at the state and local levels, we are helping businesses grow in Kentucky and helping to ensure that our customers and communities stay connected throughout the country.”

More details about our wireless coverage in Kentucky, and anywhere in the U.S., can be found on the AT&T Coverage Viewer. For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page.

Expanding Access to Fiber

In order to meet the continual demands for reliable, high-speed connections in our increasingly virtual world, we are looking to the future and investing in solutions like fiber around the country.

AT&T Fiber® offers speeds of nearly 1 GIG2 for both upload and download, which provides plenty of bandwidth for consumers and businesses and creates a better internet experience for bandwidth- heavy applications like video conferencing, virtual learning, telehealth, and gaming that are growing in popularity and importance. It has also proven to be 99% reliable3 and offers consistently fast speeds, even during peak times.4

Is fiber available in my area? We currently offer AT&T Fiber in more than 90 metro areas across the U.S. AT&T Fiber is currently available in parts of Bowling Green, Central Kentucky, and Louisville.

Bringing fast, reliable, secure AT&T 5G to more Americans

AT&T is also unlocking the power of 5G for consumers, businesses and first responders through both AT&T 5G and AT&T 5G+:

  • AT&T 5G, delivered over sub-6 spectrum sets us up to offer a better wireless experience with greater capacity to enable faster responses on capable devices. AT&T offers fast, reliable and highly secure 5G to 240 million people in 14,000 cities and towns nationwide including parts of 53 Kentucky counties.
  • AT&T 5G+ is our name for 5G delivered over a millimeter wave spectrum. Its super-fast speeds make it ideal for high-traffic areas and places like stadiums, arenas, school campuses, hospitals and will help unlock unprecedented experiences in iconic destinations and key venues. AT&T 5G+ is currently available in parts of 38 cities including Louisville.

To check out the latest fiber pricing options head to att.com and to learn more about AT&T 5G, visit our AT&T 5G site.

FirstNet: Dedicated to America’s First Responders

We are committed to improving public safety infrastructure. As a part of that commitment, we have invested and built FirstNet in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) – an independent agency within the federal government. FirstNet is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community.

  • Expanding to serve: FirstNet focuses on where first responders need connectivity. We’ve moved quickly to deliver more coverage, boost capacity and drive new capabilities for first responders. Using all AT&T LTE commercial spectrum as well as high-quality Band 14 spectrum, FirstNet covers 2.71 million square miles nationwide. And we’re actively extending the reach of FirstNet in Kentucky to give agencies large and small the reliable, unthrottled connectivity and modern communications tools they require.
  • First responder-centric 5G: FirstNet subscribers in parts of 38 cities and more than 20 venues now have access to AT&T 5G+. Our approach to 5G for public safety is unlike anything else. We’ve upgraded the dedicated FirstNet network core to enable 5G connectivity that is being built to intuitively optimize the experience for America’s first responders. First responders maintain voice communications with always-on priority and preemption on LTE, while the FirstNet network determines the best route for data traffic with compatible devices, whether that’s 5G+ or LTE spectrum.

The FirstNet network is providing Kentucky public safety with truly dedicated coverage and capacity when they need. These advanced capabilities enable FirstNet to help fire, EMS, and law enforcement personnel save lives and protect their communities.

The Connect America Fund

Through our participation in the FCC’s Connect America Fund universal service program, we are helping to meet the connectivity needs of customers in largely rural areas and to expand the opportunities enabled by internet access. By the end of 2020, we offered high-speed internet access to over 84,000 locations across Kentucky in mostly rural areas through technologies like Fixed Wireless Internet.

FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks and service marks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.


1 GWS awarded AT&T Best Network OneScore 2020. GWS conducts drive tests for AT&T and uses the data in its OneScore analysis.
2 Speeds vary and not guaranteed. Internet speed claims represent maximum network service capabilities and based on wired connection to gateway. Actual customer speeds may vary based on a number of factors and are not guaranteed. Download speeds for Internet 1000 are typically up to 940Mbps due to overhead capacity reserved to deliver the data. For more information, go to www.att.com/speed101.
3 Based on network availability.
4 Based on wired connection to the gateway.

p.after-p sub span { line-height: 20px !important; }