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Report to Legislature Concludes
Nearly 1 Million Texans Lack Access
To Broadband Internet At Home

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Nearly 1 million Texans do not have access to broadband Internet access at home, according to a report released (Nov. 1) to the Legislature by the Governor’s Broadband Development Council (press release).
  • Background: The council was created by 2019 legislation to study ways to provide Internet access to unserved areas. The council must issue a report to the Legislature annually. This is the council’s first report.
The report found that as of July 2020:
  • An estimated 926,859 Texans — in 300 geographical locations in the state — did not have access to broadband Internet at home, making it “particularly problematic for those who need to attend school virtually, visit a doctor online, or work remotely, either due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other factors.”

  • Ninety percent (823,920) of Texas households without broadband Internet access are in rural areas and the remaining 10 percent (100,000 households) lacking broadband Internet access are in urban areas.

  • Some of the main barriers identified include: 1) regulatory, economic, and technical factors, such as population density and geography, infrastructure investment, profitability, etc.; 2) a low rate of broadband adoption; 3) lack of collaboration between stakeholders, and 4) insufficient statewide coordination.
Also, Texas is one of six states that does not have a statewide broadband Internet plan, the report notes.

COVID-19: A Critical Issue
The report also highlights the critical issues resulting from how COVID-19 has made the lack of broadband connectivity a critical issue for rural and unserved areas of the state, and for students in those households — and looked at the challenges to broadband Internet access, including to schools, caused by the pandemic.

Citing a recent survey of Texas educators published in August 2020, many Texas schools have transitioned to virtual classrooms, which has increased the demand for broadband access. The survey found that “one of every six public school students in Texas does not have access to high-speed internet.”

The report summarizes various initiatives, including the governor’s Operation Connectivity project to deliver Internet connectivity and device solutions for school districts and families, federal COVID-19 related CARES Act funding provided to schools for technology purposes, and the federal E-Rate program.

Recommendations
The report recommends that Texas: 1) create a state broadband plan, 2) establish a broadband office and 3) develop a broadband funding program to incentivize the deployment of broadband access in unserved areas.