The BDO, which comes under the purview of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, recently wrapped up a “Broadband Listening Tour” that included 12 stops across the state.
Conte told Industry Insider — Texas that he was impressed to see how people mobilized to take advantage of the tour during March and April. Elected officials, public-sector employees, business leaders and residents attended to make comments and ask questions about broadband expansion.
Areas of concern include:
- Online learning
- Telehealth
- Senior citizen and student access
- Internet speed and affordability
While more than 9 out of 10 Texas households have access to broadband service, not all choose to subscribe. Many households rely on mobile devices to access services due to the cost of an Internet connection. Even households paying for service may have a low level of connectivity.
“You can put hot spots in people’s hands, and that’s great, but if there’s no connectivity, they are just paperweights,” he said.
The BDO is charged with setting a threshold speed for broadband. The office, established under House Bill 5 during the 87th Legislature, is also charged with establishing a statewide plan, awarding grants and monies, providing community outreach, addressing barriers for future expansion and creating an accurate broadband map.
Federal grant monies are the majority source for project funding, and there is also budget from the state's general revenue. The funding has yet to be dispersed from the BDO.
Federal funding includes:
- American Rescue Plan Act – Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund
- Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program
- IIJA – The Digital Equity Act
A state broadband plan is to be released in June, which is on schedule with the timeline set out by the BDO and comptroller's office.
“I would say one of the most rewarding aspects of this job is being a local advocate for our community,” Conte said. “We’ve created a market failure with broadband, and many neighborhoods have been left out. We are bringing a service to them that they wouldn’t otherwise have.”
