Texas Secures $1.27 Billion for Broadband Expansion

Texas has received federal approval for its $1.27 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) plan, setting the stage for large-scale infrastructure work aimed at expanding high-speed Internet access to more than 240,000 locations statewide.

The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) selected 22 providers through a competitive grant round that drew more than 4,500 applications requesting over $6.4 billion in total support. Projects will use a mix of fiber, fixed wireless and satellite technologies, with subgrantees committing to serve all locations within four years. According to the Texas Comptroller's final proposal, 4,354 out of 4,539 applicants pledged to complete deployments in under 48 months.

To support smaller and mid-sized providers, Texas launched the Texas Match Assistance Program (TMAP), which provisionally awarded about $177 million to qualifying applicants. TMAP was funded through the state’s voter-approved Broadband Infrastructure Fund and helped applicants meet the federal 25 percent matching requirement without removing eligible locations from their projects.

Applications were evaluated using a standardized rubric based on deployment speed and technical performance. Priority was given to projects offering the lowest BEAD subsidy per location. In cases where costs were within 15 percent of each other, the BDO used scoring criteria focused on network speed and readiness, awarding up to 95 points for technical capability and 5 points for speed-to-deployment.

The state also executed a structured “deconfliction” process to resolve overlapping proposals and awarded additional grants through a secondary round to ensure full geographic coverage of all eligible broadband serviceable locations.

To maintain accountability, BEAD funds will be distributed through milestone-based payments, and subgrantees will be required to submit semiannual progress reports. Contracts will include clawback provisions, and all projects must offer a low-cost broadband option for at least 10 years.

“Expanding reliable broadband is ultimately about strengthening our communities and supporting the hardworking Texans who keep our economy moving in each of the 254 counties across the state,” Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock said in a statement.

“With this approval, we will ensure federal funds are used carefully and transparently, with a focus on innovative technologies and real accountability," he said. "The Texas broadband plan reflects our state’s commitment to responsible stewardship and to creating an environment where families, students and businesses can continue to thrive for generations to come.”

Remaining BEAD funds may later be allocated to non-deployment uses such as digital skills training and broadband adoption initiatives, pending further guidance from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.