Harris County to Form Broadband Task Force

The Harris County Commissioners Court in June voted unanimously to create a Harris County Broadband Task Force comprised of members from both the private and public sectors.

The task force’s creation aligns with Initiative H5 of the county’s 2025-2029 strategic plan, which aims to expand the county’s free wireless broadband network and access points.

According to a broadband road map created for the county by the nonprofit US Ignite, more than 171,000 homes in Harris County do not have a broadband connection; more than 60 percent of them are in two of the four county precincts.

The task force will focus on three main aspects of broadband access expansion: partnerships between the public and private sectors, expanding infrastructure, and expanding the county’s Digital Navigators program, which connects residents with free or low-cost technology services.

Harris County Universal Services CIO and Executive Director Sindhu Menon will lead the task force.

“We look forward to spearheading the development of the Harris County Broadband Task Force and its important work of addressing the unique needs of underserved communities across the county,” said Menon in a press release. “The solution is not a one size fits all, there are unique needs in each precinct. With the creation of this task force, which brings together diverse sectors and expertise, a strong first step has been taken in creating sustainable digital opportunities in our communities.”

The task force will make use of federal, state, local and private funding sources, including Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) grants. Texas is the largest recipient of BEAD funds in the nation, receiving $3.3 billion for broadband expansion projects across the state.