The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document was created for the Texas Broadband Development Office’s (BDO) ISP Data Acquisition initiative. Data company LightBox (LBX) will be partnering and assisting the BDO with data acquisition and developing the availability map.
The Broadband Development Office (BDO), operated by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, awards grants, low-interest loans and other financial incentives to internet service providers who expand access to broadband service in unserved and underserved areas in Texas. The BDO also provides a variety of tools and resources supporting the expansion of broadband access across Texas.
In accordance with Government Code Section 490I.0105, the BDO is also tasked with creating, updating and publishing a statewide broadband service availability map for the state of Texas. The map will divide the state into “designated areas” and classify each area as eligible or ineligible for broadband funding through the BDO. The classification depends on the percent of the addresses in the designated area that have and do not have access to broadband service, as well as if the federal government has awarded funding under a competitive process to support the deployment of broadband service to addresses in the designated area.
BDO understands that many ISPs are submitting broadband service data to both the FCC as well as to Texas and it can be burdensome, but the data being asked for is the type and format of data needed by GIS specialists to create the broadband service availability maps:
LBX will send ISPs an email with secure credentials needed to access the submission portal. Using those credentials, sign into the submission portal and follow the directions.
Entities opting to sign a confidentiality agreement (PDF) with LightBox must complete the agreement and send it to TexasISPCoordinator@lightboxre.com.
Contact the LBX Texas ISP Coordinator to request your secure credentials.
Please refer to the ISP Submission Guide (PDF) (Section 4).
Please refer to the ISP Submission Guide (PDF) (Sections “Fixed List of Locations” and “Fixed/Mobile Coverage Areas”).
The first round of ISP data submissions for the BDO broadband availability map program begins on Sept. 9, 2022, and closes on Oct. 7, 2022.
This round of ISP data submissions will be used to create the Texas broadband map to ensure accuracy and coverage.
The broadband availability map will be updated at least annually, however map challenges and reclassifications may require more frequent updates.
Please check back on BroadbandForTexas.com for announcements on any further mapping updates.
For technical assistance related to submitting mapping data, contact the LBX Texas ISP Coordinator at mailto:TexasISPCoordinator@lightboxre.com with any questions.
Yes. For the ISP data submission filing, broadband availability data as of June 30, 2022 must be submitted during the data submission window of Sept. 9 – Oct. 7. For this round, do not submit future broadband availability data. In future filing rounds, data requests for map updates will align with the FCC effective dates.
No, not at this time.
BDO is requesting broadband availability data from all ISPs in the state, including satellite providers.
New ISPs who do not yet have a serviceable area in Texas should send an email to broadband@cpa.texas.gov indicating they do not have data to submit. Include the name of the ISP, date of inception and current contact information in case BDO has follow up questions.
Any ISP seeking to participate in the broadband availability data submission initiative and who did not receive an initial request should provide their contact details (email, phone, contact name, contact title, organization name) to TexasISPCoordinator@lightboxre.com.