Houston, we have new connections!
Over the past two months, AT&T has launched H-Town’s Summer of Connectivity, visiting neighborhoods across Houston to expand digital resources and connections. In all, we distributed over 900 laptops and 300 backpacks with school supplies to residents across the greater Houston area as part of our effort to help bridge the digital divide and expand opportunities for more Texans.
Connecting to greater possibility across Houston
This summer, we fanned out across the greater Houston area to support events alongside a variety of community organizations serving residents with laptops, backpacks, and digital skills training.
- We visited local churches like Assumption Catholic Church and St. John Vianney Catholic Church.
- We gathered at community nonprofits including the Peoples United Summit and Harris County Precinct2gether.
- We also were lucky enough to visit college campuses, like the North Forest Campus of Houston Community College and the University of Houston at Katy!
Here, there, and everywhere we went, we were inspired by our community’s eagerness to connect.
The refurbished laptops that are part of this effort are funded by an AT&T donation to Compudopt – part of the $5 billion we’ve committed since 2021 to helping bridge the digital divide. This commitment includes an ambitious goal to help 25 million people get and stay connected to affordable, high-speed internet access throughout this decade. Our initial commitment of $2 billion helped us reach nearly 5 million people and now, with that experience driving our efforts, we can scale our initiative to have even greater impact in communities across the country.
Here in Houston, we’re proud of the support we received from everyone during this summer celebration of connection. Each laptop or backpack we distributed represented a step forward for each student or family member toward a whole new world of possibility.
Investing in Texas
Across the Lone Star state, we’re investing in our network and in our communities. From 2019-2023, we’ve invested more than $12.6 billion in our Texas network infrastructure to connect more people to greater possibility. This includes more than $2.1 billion in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land area.
What a ride
We’ve only had a short time to reflect on our summer of connectivity, but it is clear the impact that connectivity can have in empowering a community. We hope that this summer has our friends and neighbors well-positioned for success as we keep our eyes on the horizon.
