Without any fanfare, AT&T Inc. has started offering a broadband Internet service for $10 a month, cheaper than any advertised plan.

The DSL, or digital subscriber line, plan introduced Saturday is among the concessions made by San Antonio-based AT&T to the Federal Communications Commission to get its $86 billion acquisition of BellSouth Corp. approved in December.

The $10 offer is available to customers in the 22-state AT&T service region, which includes former BellSouth areas, who have never had AT&T or BellSouth broadband service, spokesman Michael Coe said Monday. Local phone service and a one-year contract are required. The modem is free.

The plan was not mentioned in a Friday news release about AT&T’s DSL plans. On the AT&T Web site, a page describing DSL options doesn’t mention the plan, but clicking a link for “Term contract plans” reveals it. The plan is also presented to customers who go into the application process, Coe said.

(AP)