Texas Prepares to Launch LEO Satellite Grant Program to Expand Broadband Access in Rural Areas

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said his Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) is piloting a competitive grant program to support the deployment of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite broadband service in rural, unserved areas of Texas, using $30 million from the state’s Broadband Infrastructure Fund. This initiative continues the Texas Legislature's directive to bridge the digital divide and ensure greater access to high-speed internet for all Texans. For interested service providers that provide LEO satellite broadband, the BDO will release an official solicitation with detailed program guidelines and application instructions this spring. The BDO's pilot project will use LEO satellite technology to connect eligible, unserved locations, focusing first on areas that were not adequately addressed through the fiber-focused Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) Program.