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Don Huffines
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
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Texas Broadband Pole Replacement Program
Established by House Bill 1505 from the 87th Legislature, the Texas Broadband Pole Replacement Program provides reimbursement funds to eligible applicants to expedite broadband deployment to Texans living in rural, unserved areas. In November 2023, Texas voters passed Proposition 8, which created the Broadband Infrastructure Fund and dedicated $75 million in state revenue to the Broadband Pole Replacement Fund to support the program.
The Broadband Development Office (BDO) accepted applications for its first round of the Pole Replacement Program in September 2024 and made $18.5 million in reimbursement awards.
The office accepted applications for a second round of the program in January 2025 and made $9.8 million in reimbursement awards.
The Texas Broadband Pole Replacement Program Dashboard provides detailed information regarding the first two rounds of funding.
The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for a third round will be published in November 2026.
ROUND THREE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY
- Eligible applicants are pole owners or broadband service providers that paid or incurred eligible replacement costs in eligible areas.
- Eligible replacement costs include any amount paid or incurred by an applicant between Jan. 10, 2025, and Aug. 1, 2026, to:
- remove or dispose of an existing pole;
- purchase or install a new replacement pole;
- transfer any existing facilities to the replacement pole; and/or
- perform documented and reasonable services determined to be required for facilitating a pole’s replacement.
- Eligible applicants for the Pole Replacement Program are able to request reimbursement for their pole replacement costs up to the lesser of 50% of eligible expenses or $5,000 per pole.
- Eligible areas are defined in Sec. 403.553(a)(4) and (f), Texas Government Code.
ROUND THREE NOFA AND ESTIMATED TIMELINE
- The Broadband Pole Replacement Fund has a balance of approximately $51 million, with accrued interest.
- The Pole Replacement Program NOFA will be posted for public review and comment in November.
- Applications will be accepted in early January 2027.
RESOURCES
For more information about program eligibility and its requirements, the following resources are available:
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