Texas Tribune
Broadband grants paused as critics allege favoritism toward Elon Musk’s Starlink
The Texas Broadband Development Office placed a temporary hold on August 12 on all disbursements of billions of dollars in federal funds related to the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program.
Texas lawmakers call for audit of state’s broadband grant funding
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R-TX) and House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-TX) called for an audit of the Texas Broadband Development Office after the office faced allegations of favoring satellite companies when it came to distributing more than $5 billion in state and federal dollars. In a joint statement, the lawmakers said concerns were raised during a Senate hearing about the award process.
What Texas can learn from Japanese cities that give technology to its senior citizens
Finding sustainable, low-cost ways to care for the elderly population is a problem Texas is all too familiar with and Japan, home to the world’s largest over-65 population at 36 million, is beating Texas in solving. Chronic workforce shortages along with rising costs to care for a growing older population have prompted Japan—from companies to local governments—to heavily invest in technology to make it easier for family members to remotely monitor the elderly.
Texas official wants low-cost broadband requirements tied to federal dollars dropped
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar (R-TX) recommended federal officials change requirements for billions of dollars in broadband funding, including eliminating the low-cost requirement. Hegar suggested the change in a letter to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who is the chairman for the Senate committee that oversees the federal agency responsible for allocating federal broadband funds. In the letter, Comptroller Hegar says removing the requirement may increase provider participation.
Texas has billions pledged to expand broadband. Spending it is taking a while.
The goal of expanding broadband availability in Texas has been a long time coming. Depending on the day, the finish line either looks closer than ever or so very far away. Recently, Texas won final approval to use billions of federal money to help connect every corner of the sprawling state. The news came about 17 months after the $3.3 billion was first pledged for Texas — part of the bipartisan infrastructure deal signed by President Joe Biden.
Rural Texans, internet providers worry that federal broadband expansion plan will have a painfully slow rollout
A national coalition—including broadband providers and nonprofit organizations—noted that some recipients nationwide of previous broadband grant programs have failed to use their allocations to build out broadband networks. Texas Rural Funders, a nonprofit dedicated to rural philanthropy, took the lead in collecting signatures from Texans.
Rural Texas may lose out on billions in broadband infrastructure funding due to federal regulations
When Texas was awarded $3.3 billion in federal money toward expanding broadband infrastructure across the state, government leaders and telecommunication companies celebrated the news. With the federal funds, coupled with $1.5 billion from the state’s wallet, rural and underserved Texas communities finally saw a chance to catch up with technology in the rest of the country.
Texas will spend billions to connect the state with broadband. But is it clear which neighborhoods need help?
Texas lawmakers passed a momentous bill that allocates $1.5 billion to expand internet availability across the state through the new Broadband Infrastructure Fund. If approved by voters in November, that money will be added to an undetermined amount of federal dollars the state will receive. That allocation is slated to be announced by June 30.
Final approval given to bill allocating $1.5 billion to broadband expansion in Texas
Texas lawmakers made the biggest investment for broadband development in state history with a bill allocating $1.5 billion to an infrastructure fund that is meant to expand internet availability in a state where 7 million people lack access to the service. House Bill 9, filed by State Rep. Trent Ashby, (R- Lufkin) would create the Texas Broadband Infrastructure Fund.