Comptroller Releases Broadband Plan

State Comptroller Glenn Hegar last week released his agency’s plan to support the expansion of broadband internet access to areas with limited or no access. Hegar and his agency’s Broadband Development Office received feedback through a series of town halls, virtual discussions and more than 16,000 responses to a survey.

“An important, recurring theme has been the reminder that though high-speed internet may once have been a luxury, it is now a necessity,” Hegar wrote in a letter to Texas legislators. “Texans need reliable, high-speed connectivity for a wide range of potential applications including public health, safety, education and modern agriculture.”

Census data collected in 2020 indicates as many as 7 million Texans — nearly one-fourth of the state’s population — do not have broadband access. The issue disproportionately affects rural communities, low-income families and communities of color, the report said.

The report notes the statewide plan will require additional funding. The Legislature provided $5 million to jump-start the Broadband Development Office, and the federal American Rescue Act allocated $500.5 million for broadband expansion. In addition, the recently passed infrastructure bill allocates at least $100 million.

By early next year, the BDO will:

• Establish a broadband-focused, federally compliant grant program.

• Publish a broadband availability map.

• Manage recurring coordination and communication opportunities across stakeholder groups.

“Texas faces a huge challenge: Connecting over 1 million households to high-speed broadband, improving connectivity for over 5.6 million households, improving affordability of broadband for 3.6 million households and assisting 3.8 million Texans with digital literacy challenges,” Hegar said.