Digital Divide

Advancing digital access, affordability and adoption to bring more people online.

Click through to learn about our 2024 impact in action.

Connectivity is a bridge to possibility, improving how people move through daily life and creating better futures through access to opportunity. However, millions of Americans still don’t have access to high-speed internet, can’t afford it or don’t have the know-how to use it. This is the “digital divide” — the gap between those who can fully participate in the digital world and those who can’t. Bridging this gap is essential for ensuring equitable access to opportunities.

At AT&T, our strategy to connect more people is guided by three pillars:

• Access: Expanding high-quality connectivity to under-resourced communities.
• Affordability: Lowering cost barriers and advocating inclusive public policy.
• Adoption: Investing in education and tools to maximize the benefits of connectivity.

Expanding Access

When it comes to getting more people online, fostering access to connectivity solutions is key.

Connected Learning Centers

Our growing network of AT&T Connected Learning Centers™ (CLCs) brings underserved communities access to high-speed fiber internet, Wi-Fi and computing devices — as well as equipment and services donated by our collaborators, Dell Technologies and World Wide Technology. Housed within local community organizations, CLCs also offer digital literacy resources to help improve essential skills. 

Rural and Underserved Connectivity

Nearly one in four rural Americans say broadband internet access is a major problem in their community. To address this, we pursue public-private partnerships with states and localities. By taking advantage of government broadband deployment grants, we aim to deliver high-speed services of at least 1 gigabit per second to more of rural America and other underserved communities.

Device Distributions

Restricted access to large-screen devices, like computers, can put families at a disadvantage when pursuing education and employment. We strategically partner with nonprofits to increase access to these types of technologies, including collaborating with organizations like Digitunity, Compudopt, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation and Human-I-T to distribute refurbished devices to people who need them most.

Enhancing Affordability

For disadvantaged communities, low-cost broadband programs open the door to greater connectivity. In 2016, we introduced Access from AT&T, a targeted low-cost program for home internet access. The program provides eligible households with affordable internet options — the most popular being $30 per month for speeds up to 100Mbps symmetrical.

To educate potential participants about Access from AT&T, we work with social service organizations and groups that work with low-income individuals and families, including those representing veterans, seniors and students.

Driving Adoption

Bridging the digital divide means ensuring people have access to both digital technologies and the skills to use them effectively. We offer several free initiatives to help people use the internet safely and responsibly.

Digital Literacy: Courses and Navigators

We offer self-paced digital literacy courses for adults and families, developed with the Public Library Association (PLA). Additionally, PLA provides in-person digital workshops through funding made possible by AT&T to local libraries across the nation. In addition, we fund organizations to scale the delivery of digital literacy workshops across the nation in underserved communities.

Through our Digital Navigator Program, launched with NPower, we support trusted guides who assist community members with ongoing, individualized support for accessing affordable and appropriate connectivity, devices and digital skills.

Digital Safety: AT&T ScreenReady

AT&T ScreenReady® features tips, tools and information to help parents and caregivers set parental controls on connected devices, navigate digital parenting issues and create the right online experience for their families. 

Digital Learning: The Achievery

In addition to digital literacy and safety tools, we deliver educational programming through The Achievery^SM, our free K-12 digital learning platform with activities and lessons developed by leading education organizations. The Achievery is aligned to academic standards and reviewed by education experts from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Access to The Achievery in our CLCs and in schools is one way we demonstrate the value of high-speed connectivity to those who don’t yet have it at home.

Advocating for Policy Development

Sound public policy is important to our efforts around the digital divide. We advocate at all levels of government for solutions that are crucial to getting people connected and supporting the future of high-performance networking. We oppose regulating internet rates, unfunded broadband discounts and unfunded service mandates because such regulations discourage investment and innovation, and diminish the competitive choices available to consumers. Ultimately, such regulations make more services less affordable for most to make them more affordable for some.

Digital Divide Governance

We maintain a defined structure for overseeing our digital divide strategy. 

• Board of Directors’ Governance and Policy Committee: Assists the Board in overseeing governance practices and corporate responsibility strategy, including related policies, programs and sustainability reporting. Awareness of digital divide activities is upheld throughout the full Board.
• Cross-business Collaboration: Representatives from Corporate Responsibility, Public Affairs, Public Policy, External and Legislative Affairs, Network Technology and Operations, Finance, Marketing and Communications business units collaborate to drive our digital divide strategy across the business.

Having achieved our goal to invest $2 billion to help bridge the digital divide, we have committed an additional $3 billion to help close this gap by 2030. Included in this commitment is an ambitious goal to help 25 million people get — and stay — connected to affordable, high-speed internet throughout this decade. 

2024 Impact: Expanding Access

Connected Learning Centers (CLCs)

We launched an additional 28 CLCs, bringing the total to 62 which, collectively, serve more than 55,000 people nationwide. With the achievement of our previous goal to establish 50 centers, we now have set a new commitment — to open at least 100 by the end of 2027.

Mobile Connectivity Center

We launched our Mobile Connectivity Center™ (MCC), a 48-foot trailer equipped with devices and wireless internet connectivity. Created in partnership with the Information Technology Disaster Resource Center, the MCC serves as a hub for connectivity during emergencies and natural disasters. It also is available for events aimed at narrowing the digital divide. Throughout the year, we tested the MCC at seven digital divide events across the country and will expand to more in 2025.

Learn more about how we’re leveraging our MCC to support impacted communities in our Community Engagement & Philanthropy issue brief.

Distributing Devices

In events across 47 states, we distributed more than 40,000 devices to students and families who need them most. From 2021 through the end of 2024, we worked with more than 100 nonprofit organizations to distribute more than 138,000 hot spots and devices, impacting more than 385,000 people.

Expanding our Network

Throughout 2024, we expanded our fiber and wireless networks to reach more people, especially in traditionally underserved areas like mountainous and rural regions. At the end of 2024, our fiber network passed 28.9 million consumer and business locations. 

We also announced a commercial agreement with AST SpaceMobile to provide a space-based broadband network directly to everyday cellphones. The agreement includes deploying five initial satellites to enable reliable wireless connectivity across the continental U.S., including previously unconnected areas. 

2024 Impact: Enhancing Affordability

The federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which helped eligible consumers afford broadband service, concluded in May 2024 as funding ran out. We continue to urge the federal government to adopt a long-term solution to help eligible consumers afford broadband. At the same time, we have reaffirmed our long-standing commitment to help people who have low incomes afford high-speed internet access through our targeted Access from AT&T offers.

We expanded our work with Human-I-T to serve as an affiliate seller for Access from AT&T, helping to promote and register participants for the program through online forms and at device distribution events. 

2024 Progress: Driving Adoption

Throughout 2024, we connected more people with digital literacy resources. We collaborated with organizations like Connected Nation and Digitunity to conduct in-person digital literacy workshops, conducting more than 700 in 2024. We also supported the National Parent Teacher Association’s “Ready, Tech, Go!” (RTG!) program, reaching more than 16,000 parents with information on safely using technology. We committed to deliver up to 4,000 AT&T-donated devices to eligible families during RTG! events in 2025.

Through our investment in NPower, we launched two Community Helpdesk programs in Dallas, Texas, and St. Louis, Missouri, which include the integration of digital navigators as IT Helpdesk specialists. These specialists provide technical support, from device troubleshooting to helping people gain access to learn and use devices and improve their overall digital knowledge.

And to deliver digital tools to older adults, we partnered with four nonprofits:

• Cyber-Seniors will help teenagers mentor older adults in internet basics, reaching 5,000 people.
• National Council on Aging will connect 10,000 older adults through workshops and online courses.
• National Hispanic Council on Aging will integrate AT&T digital literacy resources into its Caring for the Caregiver initiative, reaching 2,500 people.
• Older Adults Technology Services from AARP will serve 10,000 older adults with accessible digital learning resources via the Senior Planet program.

We also teamed up with the national YMCA to integrate The Achievery into 50 YMCA centers for their out-of-school-time programming. We aim to engage approximately 5,000 students in underserved communities across the nation.

2024 Progress: Policy Advocacy

Throughout 2024, we continued advocating for:

• A permanent and sustainable federal program that provides direct financial assistance to low-income households to help ensure that everyone has access to internet connectivity.
• A federal government solution to bring more spectrum to market so providers like AT&T can continue delivering seamless, affordable customer experiences.
• A smart approach to administering the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program to responsibly invest taxpayer money, stimulate sustainable private investment and drive participation from experienced, capable infrastructure providers. 

In November, AT&T was awarded nearly $55 million in BEAD funding — as part of the first BEAD awards in the nation — to expand AT&T Fiber across Louisiana. As part of a four-year, $205 million public-private project, we will use the funding to deliver high-speed internet to more than 20,000 unserved and underserved locations across the state.

Understanding the Efficacy of Our Actions

Measuring and understanding our digital divide community program impacts on the business and on society is important to us. In addition to an internal ROI assessment that proved accretive value, we have been partnering with a third-party research firm, Westat, to evaluate the reach and impact of the program. This comprehensive assessment, using a Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology, provided insights into the social and economic benefits generated by our digital divide community programs from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2024. The study analyzed charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations, academic research, event outcomes and key performance indicators (KPIs). To gather a robust set of data, Westat conducted online surveys, virtual interviews, site visits and focus groups with service providers and program beneficiaries.

The study focused on connectivity and computers, digital navigation, digital literacy skills and digital learning resources on The Achievery. Westat developed survey questions to assess the impact of our efforts, focusing on areas such as digital literacy, technology confidence, access to affordable internet/devices, academic improvement, health outcomes and social connection.

Key Findings:

• The communities supported by providers receiving contributions from AT&T encompass all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, representing a wide range of settings. Nearly two-thirds of these communities are located in urban areas (63.8%), with the remainder in suburban (22.7%) and rural (13.5%) regions. Additionally, over 70% of individuals impacted by AT&T’s Connected Learning funding and programs come from low-income families, highlighting the program’s focus on serving economically disadvantaged populations across diverse geographic areas.
• Westat estimated the social benefit generated by AT&T’s digital divide program investments to be $294 million, with a projected reach of 2.3 million people. When they divided the social benefit generated by the investment amount, the data revealed that for every $1 invested in communities, AT&T generated $2.47 in social value – equivalent to a return of almost 250%.
• The study identified the most impactful areas of the program:
  • Computer device distribution delivered the highest value and impact within the program. Approximately 380,000 people benefited from receiving free or low-cost refurbished computers. Each device generated outcomes valued at approximately $509 per recipient. In total, the social value created by the distributed computers is projected to be $193 million.
  • Digital literacy workshops generated the second highest value — nearly $48 million (17% of the total social value) due to the large number of people served (over 230,000). However, internet hotspots and The Achievery generated more value per person at $370 and $277, compared to $211 per person for workshops.
• Interorganizational partnerships foster collaboration and extend the reach of each organization’s initiatives. Westat survey results revealed that over 80% of nonprofit organization (NPO) representatives reported collaborating with other local organizations to enhance awareness and distribution of available resources and services. During focus groups, NPO representatives highlighted their primary partnerships as being with other nonprofits, businesses (such as banks), educational institutions (including schools, districts, colleges and universities), and social service agencies. Additionally, they identified collaborations with healthcare providers, libraries, faith-based organizations and philanthropists, showcasing a diverse network aimed at amplifying community impact.

Research shows the following:

People with a computer who participate in a digital literacy workshop are more likely to be employed, have job flexibility, and advance in their careers than those without these resources (61% of social value)

Other benefits include the following:

Time saved doing things more quickly (6% of social value)

Improved academic outcomes (5% of social value)

Increased confidence and skills (12% of social value)

Reduced social isolation (1.4% of social value)

Cost savings (8% of social value)

Environmental benefits (less than 1% of social value)

Distribution of 380K refurbished computers generated $193M in social value

• Digital Literacy – 98% of families reported they increased skills to use a computer and the Internet safely and responsibly.
• Work-Related Improvements – 95% of recipients used a computer to access resources that help meet family needs.
• Learning Outcomes – Recipients reported that our resources helped with work-related improvements, including 98% who found a job or advanced professionally.
• Broader Benefits – 89% reported improved health benefits, 87% indicated better civic engagement and 84% experienced emotional support from family or friends.
• Overall Household Benefit – Most families reported that the entire household benefited when someone received digital support. On average, the majority of people in these households use the digital divide resources acquired through a provider receiving a contribution from AT&T.
• Opportunities Going Forward – Westat recommendations to build our capacity and strengthen our digital divide work in the future:
  • Enhance onboarding to clearly communicate investment goals and encourage nonprofits to engage in evaluation and digital inclusion activities.
  • Share clear messages about why we invest in our digital divide efforts and include employee volunteers in digital access programming.
  • Prioritize device distribution in areas with a higher percentage of low-income households that lack reliable internet access and plan future contributions with nonprofits serving these communities.
  • Create peer networks among funded nonprofits to share ideas, improve services, collaborate across neighborhoods and find more funding opportunities.