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Outreach: News and Events
Key Dates and Upcoming Events
(All times are in Central Time.)
- May 22 – Technical Assistance Program (TAP) Webinar, 2 p.m.
- May 28 – Industry Roundtable, 3 p.m.
- June 6 – Local Government and Community Roundtable, 10 a.m.
BDO to Host TAP Informational Webinar
The Broadband Development Office (BDO) has established TAP to provide additional resources to communities that need help addressing their local digital divide. The purpose of TAP is to augment local government and community capacities and allow local leaders to be better prepared to take advantage of forthcoming state and federal funds to extend broadband connectivity in their areas by identifying localized opportunities.
The BDO is hosting an informational webinar on Wednesday, May 22, at 2 p.m. CT, that will explain TAP in greater detail, including how to apply. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the program services offered and an overview of the Broadband Planning Committee Certification and application process.
Register now to take advantage of this opportunity to learn how TAP will help enhance the broadband capabilities of counties in need. The webinar is free and open to the public.
Additional program details and resources are available on the TAP Program page.
Texas Digital Opportunity Hub Launches
The BDO is proud to introduce the Texas Digital Opportunity Hub, which serves as a user-friendly version of the recently approved Texas Digital Opportunity Plan (TDOP) (PDF, 32M). This portal will help communities, practitioners, grant seekers and decision-makers find and use digital opportunity data for different Texas regions and populations.
The Hub offers a searchable, interactive resource finder to locate digital opportunity services, programs and leadership across the state. All stakeholders are encouraged to explore and share this new and exciting tool.
BDO to Apply for State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program
The BDO is developing an application for the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program (SDECGP), in which Texas was allocated $55.6 million to implement the initiatives identified in the TDOP. This funding will be the first of three tranches over the course of three years.
The deadline to submit the application to the federal government is May 28, 2024, and funds will be distributed to states no later than the end of August. The funding from SDECGP will be used to expand programs to enhance access to affordable devices and internet services and internet services and promote digital literacy across the state with programs tentatively beginning in late 2024 or early 2025.
More information about how Texas plans to administer the SDECGP, including how potential subgrantees can apply for funding, is still forthcoming.
NTIA Approves Volume I of Texas' Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Initial Proposal
Texas’ Initial Proposal for the BEAD Program received approval for Volume I from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on April 11. The BDO continues to prepare for the BEAD challenge process, which is set to commence July 15. The office will provide guidance for participation in the challenge process in the coming months.
Volume II of the Initial Proposal is still awaiting approval by NTIA. The BDO will provide additional updates as it works through the approval process with its partners in the federal government.
Volume I and the related location lists are available on the IIJA BEAD Program webpage. Please note that the data contained in the posted lists were collected in November 2023. The BDO tentatively plans to use Version 4 Availability Data, which is set for release later this month, to run the BEAD Challenge Process.
BDO Seeks Public Input on Standards for Underserved Broadband Serviceable Locations
The Federal Communications Commission announced a significant increase in the benchmark for high-speed fixed broadband on March 14. The new benchmark for download speeds has been raised to 100 megabits per second (Mbps) and 20 Mbps for upload speed. This change is based on the standards used in various federal and state programs, customer usage patterns and the speed of service available from internet service providers.
The BDO seeks public comment on the usefulness of the existing standards for the classification of broadband serviceable locations in this state as underserved locations on the Texas Broadband Development Map created under Government Code Section 490I.0105. This will help the BDO recommend to the Texas Legislature whether, and to what extent, the speed thresholds for underserved locations should be revised for the purpose of awarding broadband infrastructure grants using state funds.
Comments must be submitted no later than June 2, 2024, to BDO Director Greg Conte, Broadband Development Office, at broadband@cpa.texas.gov or at P.O. Box 13528, Austin, TX 78711-3528.
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Winds Down
The last fully funded month of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was April 2024. In May 2024, ACP households will receive a partial discount from their internet company.
During the wind-down period of the ACP, internet service providers were required to send households three separate notices regarding the program’s end. Enrolled households were not required to stay with their internet company or continue to receive the same internet service after the end of the ACP.
All program funding ceases after May 2024.
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