AT&T applauds Google Fiber’s ‘free’ offer to community centers, notes its own efforts to bridge ‘digital divide’

While praising Google Fiber’s announced plans Wednesday to offer free ultra-fast Internet access to public housing communities, AT&T notes it is already doing so at several Triangle and Triad locations.

Plus, a new program for discounted access is coming.

“We’ve worked with community leaders across the U.S. to connect people for nearly 140 years. We applaud any plans to join our broader efforts to bring high-speed Internet access to those who need it,” AT&T (NYSE: T) said in a statement provided to WRAL TechWire shortly after the Google Fiber announcement.

“Our efforts include the rapid expansion of AT&T GigaPower to reach at least 56 major metro areas, increasing availability of high-speed Internet access to 1.1 million homes and small businesses in rural communities through the Connect America Fund, and a discounted home Internet program set to begin in April for qualifying households,” the statement added.

Connect America is an FCC program designed to expand the reach of broadband Internet access to more communities across the country and to make such access more affordable.

While Google Fiber is just getting started in the Triangle, AT&T is already providing service in several Triangle and Triad neighborhoods.

The AT&T GigaPower network in North Carolina was kick-started by being awarded the North Carolina Next Generation agreement in 2013. The consortium of communities and universities selected AT&T in a competitive process, and part of the agreement called for free high-speed access to be provided to a number of community centers and public housing.

AT&T pointed out that access availability in its statement.

“In areas like Raleigh-Durham and Winston-Salem, we provide access to free Internet to residents over the AT&T GigaPower network at multiple apartment complexes – Stoneybrook, Walnut Terrace and others – and speeds up to 1 gigabit per second at more than 10 community centers,” AT&T said.

Bridging the so-called “digital divide” is something AT&T reiterated that it wants to address.

“Additionally, as part of the White House ConnectED Initiative, AT&T committed to provide 50,000 students in Title 1 schools with $100 million of free mobile broadband access for educational devices, mobile device management, network filtering and teacher professional development for three years for each selected school,” the communications giant explained.