What’s new: In Kansas we invested nearly $1.2 billion in our network infrastructure from 2020-2024 to connect more people to greater possibility.
Why it matters: Every American deserves access to fast, reliable connectivity when it matters most – whether it’s an important call to a family member or friend, the internet that powers work or online learning, or the connection that first responders rely on. It’s this connectivity that’s powering economic growth and supporting job creation across America.
Our mission: We’re investing across the country not only to boost network reliability and capacity, but also to expand broadband nationwide to help bridge the digital divide.
How we’re making it happen in Kansas: Committed to expanding connectivity, our investment focuses on all facets of the network—including fiber, 5G and FirstNet,® Built with AT&T.
- Expanding Access to Fiber: To help meet the demands for reliable, high-speed connections today – and in the future – we’re investing in our fiber network.
- With nearly 1.6 million strand miles of fiber in Kansas, AT&T Fiber® is now available to more than 370,000 customer locations in more than 30 communities.
- With nearly 91 million fiber strand miles in 21 states, AT&T Fiber® now passes nearly 29 million consumer and business locations.
- When public entities team up with trusted providers, more Americans are connected to greater opportunity. In Kansas, we’ve collaborated with localities to bring AT&T Fiber to more corners of the state.
- Last year, we completed a public-private project: a fiber buildout to thousands more locations in Sedgwick County. Read more.
- As Kansas policymakers continue to focus on efforts to bridge the digital divide and spur private sector investment in the state, AT&T plans to expand AT&T Fiber to more than 40,000 additional residential and business locations passed by the end of 2025 – a 34 percent increase over the number of locations passed in 2024.** The expanded network will give more customers access to super-fast internet speeds up to 5-Gigs.1
- In 2024, Kansas lawmakers passed legislation that eliminated taxes on broadband equipment and otherwise streamlined provisions of the tax code. These policies help allow private-sector investments to be more effective and go directly to efforts to bridge the digital divide, promote economic development and connect more Kansans to the internet.
- “Kansas lawmakers – including Senate President Ty Masterson, Speaker Dan Hawkins, Senate Tax Chair Caryn Tyson and House Tax Chairman Adam Smith – have promoted important policies, including sales tax reforms, that have incentivized additional broadband investment in the state,” said Darin Miller, state director for AT&T. “Simply put, smart public policy helps welcome private-sector investments. We will continue to work to ensure Kansans have access to the most modern connectivity services available.”
- Building Networks for the Next Century: To reach our goal and better serve our customers with faster, more reliable services, we’re actively investing to modernize our networks that will power us for the next century, not the last one. We’re working to exit our legacy copper network operations across the large majority of our wireline footprint by the end of 2029. Throughout this transition, no customer will lose voice or 911 services. We developed products like AT&T Phone-Advanced, a digital phone service that uses our reliable wireless network and any broadband connection, as a reliable alternative to plain old telephone service (POTS).
- Today, AT&T Phone-Advanced is available in over 100 markets across 21 states, including Kansas and will continue to expand to other markets and states across the country.
- Unlocking the Power of 5G: From rural communities to urban areas, our overall wireless voice and data network covers more than 99% of all Americans, including Kansas 5G network using low-band spectrum reaches more than 310 million people in more than 26,100 cities and towns in the U.S.
- We’re working with businesses from manufacturing to healthcare to create new innovations and increase efficiencies with AT&T 5G.
- We’re ramping up performance in high traffic areas, like airports, stadiums and venues.
- For less densely populated areas, we’re expanding our 5G network so people there can have access to reliable connectivity.
- And we’re also working with AST SpaceMobile to one day offer voice, data, text and video services in remote, off-grid locations.
- We also launched AT&T Internet Air, our fixed wireless home internet service delivered over our 5G network, an all-in-one device that powers strong Wi-Fi coverage in your home.
- Unprecedented Connectivity for First Responders: As public safety’s partner, we are bringing better connectivity to public safety when — and where — they need it. Now with more than 2.99M square miles of coverage, FirstNet has the largest network footprint in the country, covering more first responders than competing commercial networks, and we are only continuing to grow. As part of our 10-year, $8B+ investment initiative with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) to transform public safety’s communications, we’ve completed the buildout of 1,000 new FirstNet sites across the country – well ahead of schedule and almost twice as fast as we pledged – providing first responders with dedicated connectivity on public safety’s Band 14 spectrum. And we’re continuing to expand FirstNet with purpose-built FirstNet sites— based on public safety’s direct feedback and network considerations — focused on rural, tribal and remote areas of the country.
- As part of the pledge, we turned on new sites in Derby, Kansas City, Lenexa and Riverton.
- In Kansas, we’re connecting public safety agencies and organizations in around 400 localities across the state.
- We’ve rolled out Band 14 on more than 600 sites across Kansas to provide public safety with truly dedicated coverage and capacity.
“Communication plays a critical role in the service we provide to our community. Our Band 14 spectrum FirstNet devices experienced significant improvement in connectivity on the east side of Rock Rd. since the new tower site came online. This enhancement in coverage directly and positively impacts our day-to-day operation. We appreciate the investment in our dedicated first responder network,” said Jonathan Marr, Fire Marshal, Derby Fire & Rescue.
And we’re not just investing in our network, we’re also investing in our communities. AT&T announced last year it’s committing an additional $3 billion by 2030 to help close the digital divide, bringing the company’s total commitment to $5 billion since 2021.
At AT&T, we work with organizations in Kansas and across the country to help equip people of all ages – from elementary school students to seniors – with the tools and training that are so important in today’s technology-focused society.
In September 2024, I joined some of my colleagues in Wichita to highlight a digital literacy training program we’re working on with AARP Kansas and Urban League Of Kansas.
Through an AARP Kansas technology initiative, older Americans can enroll in free Senior Planet® classes from AARP. These classes, available both in-person in Kansas and virtually on Senior Planet’s website, cover current digital trends and topics, including online safety, introduction to emails, introduction to social media, and introduction to service apps such as food delivery. Additionally, the adult learners will have access to the comprehensive digital literacy resources that are part of the AT&T Connected Learning® initiative.
And, through a project with the Public Library Association, we’re helped Paola Free Library offer digital-literacy training programs to people in the community. Learn more here.
Good news is always great to share. Here are a few highlights from the last year in Kansas.
- December 12, 2024 | AT&T Helps Close Digital Divide in Sedgwick County with Completion of Fiber Internet Project. Learn more.
- October 16, 2024 | Teaming up with AARP and Urban League to Expand Digital Literacy for Older Americans. Learn more.
- August 26, 2024 | Getting Ready for Back-to-School Season with Devices for Topeka Students – AT&T Connects. Learn more.
To keep up with all the latest updates from AT&T Kansas, follow us on X @ATTPublicPolicy and and on LinkedIn.
*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.
**Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements. Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.
1 Limited availability in select areas. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. Single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.
About AT&T
We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com.
