The BOOT Program is Texas’ first competitive broadband funding program aimed at funding infrastructure projects focused on bringing broadband access to end-users in eligible areas of the state.
The BOOT Program is Texas’ first competitive broadband grant program aimed at funding infrastructure projects that bring broadband access to end users in eligible areas of the state. While this guide intends to be informative, it is not exhaustive.
To participate in the program and submit a proposed project for funding, an eligible applicant must be one of the following:
Local Government Code Section 140.008(a)(2) states that a “political subdivision” means a county, municipality, school district, junior college district, other special district or other subdivision of state government. The term does not include a special purpose district described by Government Code Section 403.0241(b).The definition does not include homeowner associations.
Commercial broadband service provider
An internet service provider engaged in business intended for profit, including a telephone cooperative, an electric cooperative, or an electric utility that offers last-mile or middle-mile broadband service for a fare, fee, rate, charge, or other consideration.
Non-commercial broadband service provider
A broadband service provider that is not a commercial broadband service provider.
A partnership of any of the above
A partnership between political subdivisions of this state, commercial broadband service providers, non-commercial broadband service providers or any combination thereof.
For broadband service providers, applications should be submitted by a member of the executive team or its designee. Broadband service providers who have not reported service information requested by BDO under Government Code Section 490I.0105 may not be awarded funding by the office.
For political subdivisions, the application should be submitted by a department head of the political subdivision or their designee.
Prior to beginning an application, potential applicants should review the application documentation referenced below, particularly the latest NOFA, to determine if they meet additional eligibility requirements created by state and federal guidelines.
Potential applicants should review all the following materials before beginning an application.
BOOT Program Application Guidance Document (coming soon)
BOOT Program Application Templates (ZIP)
BOOT Program Application Guidance Webinar (coming soon)
The BOOT Program Process Overview provides a high-level view of the application process.
The online application will be open for 30 days, after which the system will be closed and evaluations will begin.
If, at the close of the BOOT Program application period, one or more applications or project areas overlap, BDO will inform the impacted applicants of the project area and provide the impacted applicants with an opportunity to resolve the overlapping unserved or underserved area. Please review the NOFA to learn more about how overlapping applications or project areas will be handled.
BDO will post all applications here at the same time.
Any interested party can submit an application challenge within 30 days of BDO posting applications.
Challenges must relate to the eligibility of an applicant or project, based on the criteria prescribed by BDO. After the application challenge window closes, BDO will review challenges and determine next steps. BDO will contact affected applicants.
If the office upholds a challenge on the grounds that one or more of the addresses covered in an application already have access to broadband service, the applicant has 30 days to resubmit the application without the challenged addresses.