Comptroller Glenn Hegar released the Texas Broadband Plan last week to expand service to underserved and unserved residents. KWH-TVI reported that the Comptroller’s Broadband Development Office (BDO) created the plan “using feedback collected through 12 public town halls, 60 virtual regional roundtable discussions, and more than 16,000 survey responses.”
Hegar noted that the plan would be a road map for improvement, giving Texans access to reliable, high-speed connectivity. He added, “though high-speed internet may once have been a luxury, it is now a necessity.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 2.8 million Texas households, or 7 million people, lack access. Another 23 percent of the state’s population has limited access. The Comptroller’s office said the digital divide disproportionately affects rural communities, communities of color, and low-income families.
KWHI reported that the BDO was established in 2021, to expand broadband access state-wide. By early 2023, it plans to launch a broadband-focused, federally compliant grant program. The office will publish a broadband availability map and manage recurring coordination and communication opportunities across stakeholder groups.
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