The Sulphur City Council received a report on the roll out of AT&T fiber, including how some households might qualify for discounted service, at the monthly council meeting on Monday.

“In Calcasieu Parish alone, AT&T has invested $40 million dollars,” Levar Greenhouse, area manager external affairs for AT&T, reported. “In addition to our fiber, we’re enhancing our wireless footprint.”

After Hurricane Laura, AT&T invested in three new cell towers, he said. Towers are on West Burton and Maplewood. The third, to be located on Nolan Bunch Road, will be up and running by the end of the year, Greenhouse said.

The fiber installation process, which includes requesting right of way for installation, engineering, planning and construction, will take about six months, Greenhouse said. Each job serves about 300 to 400 homes. When construction begins in a neighborhood, the contractor will mark doors with a hangar that contains the contractor’s number.

“If there is damage to property, small or large, call that number,” Greenhouse said.

The public will also see street signs announcing the work. Fiber will be placed in three or four months. After fiber is placed, a technician will make the final splice. After the final splice, it takes about 48 hours. Then customers can sign up for the fiber service online or in the Sulphur AT&T office. Max speed is 5 gigs.

“I have a gig at my house,” Greenhouse said.

He said it is sufficient to run several computers and four TVs.

“We cannot force anyone to migrate to fiber service,” he said. “There will be a copper line in your front yard until everybody on that line runs to fiber. If there is a major outage, AT&T will say it is more economical to move everybody to fiber and talk to residents to let them know what’s going on.”

AT&T has partnered with the federal government on its Affordable Connectivity Plan, which allows for a $30 subsidy to those who qualify. Combined with Access by AT&T, internet service could be free for 150 Mbps. Persons who qualify must be in a household that receives free or reduced lunch, meet a certain poverty threshold or receive SNAP. At the AT&T office, it is possible to obtain a form to apply, but AT&T personnel cannot complete these applications.

The company is partnering with the Boys and Girls Club in Calcasieu to do some digital literacy