Amid federal pushes away from fiber broadband, Texas kicks off satellite pilot program

Texas' statewide broadband office announced grant applications are open for a new low Earth orbit satellite program that signals a shift in how the nation is developing its broadband infrastructure. Every state has receiving funding to expand broadband through the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment, or BEAD, program, which was billed as a “bold” step toward universal high-speed internet access by 2030 by the Biden administration. But Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick last month announced plans to change to the program, including allowing states to give more of their BEAD award allotment to satellite providers. BEAD’s strict “fiber first” stipulations also created hurdles for states with isolated areas and tough terrain, which led federal lawmakers this year to introduce legislation that would streamline the program’s requirements and make all technologies, such as LEO satellite services and fixed wireless, equally eligible for BEAD funds. Kevin Taglang, executive editor at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, said that while the pilot program “seems like a smart thing to do,” relying too heavily on LEO is a huge waste of opportunity because we have the chance to build infrastructure out to these communities that would last 30 or 40 years. And LEO is something they have to replace satellites every five years or so, so it seems like a better long-term investment to invest in fiber networks.”