In what may be an effort to bridge the digital divide, AT&T jumped into the broadband bed with Wal-Mart, offering high speed in 570 stores to start, and working to expand into other markets when possible. USA Today had an article about this new offering, sharing that for the higher end, higher speed, higher cost offerings, people can get gift cards to spend at Wal-Mart.

While that's certainly enticing, where I think the big impact will hit is for the families who shop at Wal-Mart who are looking for the "best deal" on Internet, and especially high-speed Internet. With AT&T's $14.99 offering, this "bargain basement broadband" will make it easy for many to finally get high speed Internet. Now if we could just have the phone companies build out some of these older central offices where Wal-Mart lives, they could really bridge the digital divide, and bring bargain basement broadband to the masses who so desperately need it.