The state will receive $363 million in federal grants to increase access to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet to more than 150,000 homes and businesses, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said. (TNS) — Texas was awarded millions of dollars in funding from the U.S. government to improve internet access across the state.
The state will receive $363 million in federal grants to increase access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet to more than 150,000 homes and businesses, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said.
“Almost 2.8 million Texas households — including 7 million people — lack broadband access,” Hegar said, adding that 23% of residents are unable to attend online classes, see a health care provider virtually, fill out a job application online, start a business or access online marketplaces. “These barriers negatively affect Texans’ quality of life and limit economic opportunities for individuals and the state overall.”
The U.S. Department of the Treasury awarded the funding to the state’s Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas program — a competitive grant application program administered by the Texas Broadband Development Office.
Hegar said grants are offered to projects working to bring broadband infrastructure to communities without reliable internet across the state.
Areas needing the infrastructure are determined by the Texas Broadband Development Map, released in mid-January to show where in the state internet is lacking.
The BOOT program will begin accepting applications for broadband expansion projects in spring 2023.
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