Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced his Texas Broadband Development Office was allocated $3.3 billion in federal funding for broadband expansion.
The funds, provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, are part of the national $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program.
This historic investment, announced recently by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, will finance critical infrastructure projects across the state to increase access to reliable, highspeed internet and help close the availability gap in Texas.
Texas’ share was the largest of any state.
“Historically, Texas has typically been a donor state, meaning our tax dollars would go to Washington and then get sent out to fund projects in other states,” Hegar said. “It’s good to see our hard-earned tax dollars coming back to Texas, and you can be certain that each of those dollars will be spent wisely.”
Before BDO can begin implementing the $3.3 billion in funding, it must submit a proposal to NTIA describing its BEADfunded grant programs. This proposal will be directly informed by public feedback, which is why the BDO will continue engaging with communities across the state to ensure these funds have a meaningful impact.
Hegar expects BDO to begin accepting grant applications for the BEAD program in 2024.
“This funding exceeds the amounts allocated to any other state or territory because the challenge facing our state is unique,” Hegar said. “Texas has a large population with a significant share of unserved areas spread over a vast and geographically diverse landscape. The bipartisan legislation that appropriated these funds recognized the importance of giving states the flexibility to meet the needs of their unique populations. I am encouraged that NTIA recognizes the challenges we face in Texas. And I hope as NTIA evaluates our proposal in the coming months, that it gives Texas the freedom and latitude to bridge the digital divide without needless restrictions.”
Authorized by the 2021 IIJA, the BEAD Program will fund projects that help expand highspeed internet access and use. It supports infrastructure deployment, mapping and adoption, including planning and capacity-building in state offices. It also supports outreach and coordination with local communities. The program is designed to expand internet access to these priority areas: - Unserved locations speeds less than 25/3 Mbps; and - Underserved locations speeds greater than 25/3 Mbps but less than 100/20 Mbps.
The BDO is preparing to submit the following required documents to the NTIA: - Five-Year Action Plan due by Aug. 28; - State Digital Opportunity Plan due by Dec. 1; and - Initial Proposal due by late December.