For more than 150 years, AT&T has invested in the networks that connect communities. From the first telephone call to today’s advanced fiber and wireless networks, our purpose has remained the same: to build communications infrastructure that helps people stay connected, supports public safety and creates opportunity.

That commitment was on display recently in Lake Lure. I was honored to join leaders from the Federal Communications Commission, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the First Responder Network Authority, the North Carolina Department of Information Technology, the Town of Lake Lure, federal, state and local elected officials, and the public safety community as we celebrated the launch of a new cell site and expanded AT&T Fiber availability.

The new cell site in the area boosts coverage along Highway 74 and Broad River. AT&T Fiber is also now available to more than 340 new residential and business locations in the Lake Lure area. This is in addition to the nearly 200 customer locations that already have access to AT&T Fiber.

These investments are about meeting the needs of today while helping the Town of Lake Lure and surrounding communities prepare for tomorrow. As more of daily life depends on fast, reliable networks, investments in modern communications infrastructure give communities a stronger foundation for long-term growth and resilience. It supports how families stay in touch, how businesses operate, how students learn, how visitors navigate and how first responders serve their communities.

The network upgrades also help strengthen public safety communications. The new cell site supports first responders and the extended public safety community on FirstNet®, Built with AT&T — America’s public safety network. It provides first responders with always-on priority and preemption and brings Band 14 spectrum to the area.

As the Lake Lure community continues to recover and rebuild from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, the event recognized the resilience of the community, the progress made and the opportunities that come with modern, reliable communications infrastructure. We are proud to invest in the Lake Lure community, and we appreciate the collaboration of the local, state and federal leaders, public safety partners and community members who helped make this progress possible.

Our work in the Lake Lure area is part of AT&T’s broader commitment across North Carolina. From 2021 through 2025, AT&T has invested more than $3.2 billion in our wireless and wireline networks across the state. These investments continue to expand AT&T Fiber, enhance wireless connectivity and improve network performance for residents, businesses and public safety agencies.

At AT&T, we look forward to continuing to build the modern, resilient networks that help communities stay connected — today and for the future.