The Internet for All grants total $8,110,148 and are intended to deploy high-speed Internet and assist Texans in developing digital literacy. The monies are granted as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
The award includes $5 million for broadband deployments and about $3 million for digital inclusion and equity. These are known as the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity programs.
With BEAD funds, to be allocated by the state comptroller’s Broadband Development Office (BDO), focus will be on the state’s five-year broadband action plan; making broadband available across the state; identifying underserved and unserved areas; and outreach and communications.
The digital equity funds will also be allocated by the BDO to include using competitive procurement to further planning; closing digital divides; developing a statewide equity plan; working with programming partners; and holding roundtables and communicating with stakeholders.
Thursday, State Comptroller Glenn Hegar released a statement that reiterated the BDO’s regular meetings and commitments to stakeholders. He also expressed concerns regarding broadband mapping and dispute deadlines and encouraged a retuning of collaboration between the federal government and individual states. He has continued to express concerns in recent weeks.
The agency since November 2020 has supported the BDO, issued the Texas Broadband Plan and hired a contractor to map statewide Internet assets. The BDO was established under House Bill 5 during the 87th Legislature. The office, housed under the comptroller’s office, is charged with creating an accurate broadband map, awarding grants and monies, setting the threshold speed for broadband, providing community outreach and addressing barriers to expansion.
