By Amanda Junk

For The Herald Bulletin

MUNCIE — AT&T; customers in the Anderson and Muncie can expect accelerated data speeds up to twice as fast as dial-up service thanks to the introduction and expansion of its 3G mobile broadband network.

The new level of service will begin for most customers in Madison County in the next few days, according to AT&T; officials.

The extension is part of the company’s ongoing investment to build networks that will create jobs and fuel economic growth, company officials and state legislators announced Monday.

“The increased need for wireless connectivity, whether at home or on the go, has transformed how we live and work,” said Brain Ducharme, vice president and general manager for AT&T; Mobility and Consumer Markets in Indiana.

The announcement is part of AT&T;’s continuing investment following passage of the Telecom and Video Reform Act that was signed into law by Gov. Daniels in 2006. Between 2006 and 2008, AT&T;’s total capital investment has exceeded $1 billion across Indiana and has added more than 2,150 jobs across the state.

“That legislation has been a powerful catalyst for us to invest even more in bringing our next-generation wireless network to more Hoosiers,” AT&T; Indiana President George Fleetwood said. “We applaud all of the policymakers who supported these reforms. Their collective vision has helped create jobs, expand technology and deliver real benefits to Hoosier consumers.”

The addition of 3G technology will strengthen wireless voice quality, enhance in-building coverage and data speeds for residential and business customers in Anderson, Chesterfield, Daleville, Edgewood and Muncie and has also has been enhanced along major roadways including I-69, state roads 32 and 38, and highways 9 and 67, he said.

The service will be of no extra charge and require no new devices for AT&T; customers, Fleetwood said.

As part of its ongoing expansion, AT&T; also unveiled plans in March to add more than 35 new cell sites throughout Indiana in 2009. Muncie and Anderson are two of 11 communities in the country that turned up on AT&T; networks in legislation nationwide and have added service technicians and building construction and engineers to make these changes possible, he said.

State Rep. Jack Lutz, R-Anderson, co-sponsor of the Telecom Reform Act, said the expansion will provide new opportunities for economic development and make East-Central Indiana more economically competitive.

“As technology unfolds and changes into tomorrow, it’s in our interest to look into these investments,” Lutz said. “These are not minimum wage jobs. They are very competitive and conducive to Indiana to provide these types of services.”

A total of nearly $1.5 billion has been raised from AT&T;, Verizon, Embarq and other smaller telecommunications companies.

Muncie Mayor Sharon McShurley also attended the conference and said the new technology would have a trickle-down effect for larger and smaller businesses in both Muncie and Anderson.

“We are working hard to bring new investment and innovation into the area. This is another step in the right direction,” she said.

Stephan Jones, director for the Center for Information and Communcation Sciences at Ball State University, said the requirement for broadband is necessary for both consumer and business growth in the area, as it cuts down on days spent commuting to and from work when people can work from home.

“It’s like water, heating and electricity,” he said. “People don’t have to live in bigger cities like Chicago or Denver to be able to do their jobs. All they need to have is broadband access and they can work from home.”

He also said because 3G deployment is based on hardware upgrades as compared to radio or TV upgrades, it is less expensive to maintain as compared to other Internet access alternatives in areas like Selma and Albany.

“Infrastructure can’t be done in the course of a few weeks in terms of build-up,” he said. “A mile worth of fiber optic cable costs $100,000 to bury, and that kind of broadband activity would require you to have a really deep pocket.”



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For more information about AT&T;’s wireless coverage in Indiana or anywhere in the United States, visit wireless.att.com/coverageviewer

Since passage of HB 1279, At&T; and Verizon expanded their high-speed Internet access service to reach 102 new rural communities across Indiana AT&T; is fastest 3G network in 350 metropolitan areas; in-home Internet over 20,000 wi-fi hotspots; serves 75 percent of all wireless traffic