COBB >> More residents in Cobb now have access to high-speed internet service with the deployment of AT&T High Speed Internet to more than 500 locations in the area.
The service is available as a result of network upgrades made as AT&T rebuilt its network in the Cobb area, which was burned and destroyed in last year’s Valley Fire. The high-speed internet service is now available to consumers and small businesses in parts of Cobb.
“I am thankful for the restoration work AT&T has done after the devastation my district experienced in the Valley Fire,” said Lake County Board of Supervisors President Rob Brown. “This is a very rural area and we appreciate getting connected.”
A special customer service line has been set up for Cobb residents and small businesses interested in activating service. Residents can find out if service is available to their home by calling 1-844-458-3443 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The special help hotline will be available through August 20, at which time callers will be able to call the standard customer service number.
An AT&T community relations team will canvass eligible neighborhoods on July 15 and 16 to inform residents of the new service availability. The team will knock on all doors that are eligible and will leave behind fliers with the special customer service line and more details about the new internet service.
“Our wired network in this region was completely destroyed in the Valley Fire last year,” said Marc Blakeman, vice president of external affairs for AT&T California. “We’ve spent a significant part of the last year rebuilding the network from the ground up, which also allowed us to upgrade service and make high-speed internet available to more Cobb residents. We’re glad to expand connectivity to very rural areas that didn’t previously have internet access — it’s a priority for us in the coming years.”
A majority of Californians — over 96 percent according to the National Broadband Map — have access to high-speed internet at their home. While some gaps remain in very remote, high-cost areas, recent fire restoration efforts have offered opportunities to upgrade services in certain rural communities.
