Feds approve $3 billion Texas plan to expand broadband access

From the Texas Tribune:

Texas received federal approval Tuesday for its plan to improve broadband internet access for its roughly 7 million offline residents.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the federal agency that advises the president on telecommunications policy, approved Texas’ plan to use about $3.3 billion in federal money through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

The $42.45 billion program is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act of 2021. On Tuesday, NTIA announced that proposals for how the money would be used have now been approved in all states, territories and the District of Columbia.

Texas received the most money of any state. Texas first unveiled its plan in December 2023.

At the same time, the state has committed more than $1 billion in state and federal taxes to invest in broadband.

“The BEAD program has taken some time,” said Greg Conte, director of the Texas Broadband Development Office. “But what we have developed and approved this morning shows how we are approaching this methodically.”

Earlier this year, the office announced grant awards for its Bringing Online Opportunity to Texas (BOOT) program. On Monday, $580 million was awarded to applicants in 15 counties to connect 80,000 locations.

Texas won’t start spending $3 billion right away. First, internet service providers, nonprofits, and local and tribal governments have an opportunity to challenge federal maps that show where internet connectivity is needed.

These maps will help influence where billions are spent.

Several problems are likely to arise as service providers and local officials question the accuracy of the map.

“We want to make sure that the data the federal government provides us is accurate and up-to-date,” Conte said.

In a statement, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo congratulated BDO, saying, “We look forward to working with you to ensure everyone in the state is connected.”

The BEAD Challenge process will open from December 3rd to December 17th.

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