Texas receives $3.3 billion in federal broadband funds

Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced BEAD program funding amounts for states across the country. The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD Program), authorized by the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in 2021, provides over $42.5 billion to expand high-speed internet across the nation.

Texas was one of the largest BEAD recipients from the federal government, receiving $3.3 billion. As part of the requirement to draw down those funds, eligible entities such as states or subgrantees — like internet service providers — must match those federal dollars on a 1:4 basis.

House Bill 9, signed into law this month by Gov. Greg Abbott, creates a new Broadband Infrastructure Fund. As we previously reported, one authorized use of the $1.5 billion that will be transferred into that fund, pending voter approval, is to provide matching funds to draw down federal BEAD dollars.

The next step is for the Texas Broadband Development Office to develop its BEAD Five-Year Action Plan, a federal requirement to gain access to the funds. That action plan is due at the end of August.

Stay tuned for more on broadband funding as we assess how the latest version of the FCC’s national broadband map and the state’s counterpart will impact the distribution of these funds across the state.

Read more:

• Getting to know the Broadband Infrastructure Fund
• The latest on broadband legislation
• Lawmakers wrap work on broadband cleanup bill

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