Due to the upcoming holiday season, the Broadband Development Office (BDO) has updated our schedule for the Industry and Local Government Roundtables. Please note the following changes:
Dec. 30 at 3 p.m. — Combined Industry and Local Government Roundtable (Teams)
Jan. 1 — Local Government and Community Roundtable — Canceled due to agency closure
A Message from the Director
Dear Texas Broadband Stakeholders and Partners,
What an exciting year it has been! Stepping into the role of director of the Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) has been both a privilege and a whirlwind as I’ve worked to get up to speed on the many impactful programs we administer. We’re at a pivotal moment for our broadband deployment programs: Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) projects are making strong progress toward completion by the Dec. 31, 2026, deadline, and the state’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program is just getting underway following the recent acceptance of our Final Proposal.
As the BEAD Program progresses, the BDO’s priority will shift to signing subgrantee agreements and preparing for permitting processes with the focus on getting shovels in the ground by mid-2026. I encourage all selected awardees to identify and connect with the appropriate permitting offices early to keep projects on track. While we await further federal guidance regarding BEAD non-deployment funds, our commitment remains firm: to ensure every Texan has access to reliable, high-speed broadband. Over the past year, 2,660 locations were connected through BOOT awards — a milestone we can all be proud of. However, a lot more work is underway to close the digital divide in the state once and for all.
The BDO has also made significant progress in supporting Texas communities through workforce development and expanding regional capacity to support the state’s significant investment in broadband development. We recently awarded $24.6 million to expand fiber optic training programs across 10 cities, as well as more than $8 million for a local planning capacity grant program through a partnership with Texas Association of Regional Councils (TARC).
We wanted to close out the year by providing updates on how the BEAD and BOOT programs as well as other federal and state-funded projects are progressing, supporting broadband expansion and ensuring Texas is the most connected state in the nation. Thank you for your partnership and dedication as we continue this important work together.
Regards, Bryant Clayton
Texas Broadband Development Office Director
Bryant Clayton
BEAD Final Proposal Secures NTIA Approval: A Milestone for Texas Broadband Expansion
On Dec. 4, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology officially approved the state’s BEAD Final Proposal. This achievement follows a thorough public comment process and careful review of community input, culminating in the proposal’s submission in late October. Through this initiative, the BDO competitively selected 22 applicants to deliver high-speed internet access to more than 240,000 broadband serviceable locations and more than 2,700 community anchor institutions statewide. A total of $1.2 billion in federal grant funds and an additional $177 million in state matching funds have been awarded to support these projects.
The BDO will have six months to fully execute agreements with subgrantees and will be finalizing monitoring plans to ensure the program’s success. Before the work can begin, subgrantees must obtain compliant Letters of Credit or Performance Bonds and ensure all permitting requirements are met. The BDO will continue to support these subgrantees and prioritize getting projects started in early to mid-2026.
Full details on the approved awards are available on the BDO’s BEAD Program webpage.
Texas Middle Mile Program Advances Broadband Connectivity
The Texas Middle Mile (TMM) Program, backed by a $200 million commitment from the state’s Broadband Infrastructure Fund (BIF), aims to make awards for the purposes of expanding broadband access, improving network resiliency and enhancing affordability for residents across Texas. The program incentivizes projects that bolster last-mile service delivery and strengthen infrastructure, with an added focus on integrating flood detection and monitoring in vulnerable regions.
From August to November, the BDO received 28 applications requesting $702.6 million in funding, which are now under review. Eligible applications will be posted for public comment in early 2026, allowing stakeholders to provide input before final awards are determined. The BDO will provide more details in January on how to participate in the public comment period.
Broadband Workforce Program Update
The BDO has finalized contracts for the Building the Texas Broadband Workforce Grant Program and awarded approximately $24.6 million to seven organizations to augment or create fiber optic training programs designed to offer Texans industry-recognized certifications and support the state’s workforce initiatives. The BDO is continuing to explore future initiatives to support and invest in workforce development related to broadband expansion.
The BDO has partnered with TARC to develop the Texas Regional Broadband Program (TRBP). This program will enhance the capacity of local Councils of Government (COGs) to spearhead regional digital opportunity strategies and to assist with local broadband planning. Considering the significant investments in Texas for broadband expansion, this program has been designed to complement ongoing and future programs throughout the state.
With TARC acting as a pass-through entity, participating COGs will receive crucial funding to support dedicated broadband staffing for three years. Through oversight by the BDO, TARC will be responsible for ensuring the individual programs are successful and have the greatest impact for each of the specific regions.
This $8.75 million investment, funded by the BIF, will enable each COG to lead local planning efforts to foster successful broadband adoption and implementation of digital opportunity initiatives at the regional level.
For more information about the TRBP, including how a COG can participate, visit TARC’s website.
BOOT Program Accelerates Broadband Access
The BOOT Program is the BDO’s first competitive grant initiative dedicated to building last-mile broadband connections and expanding high-speed internet access in eligible areas across Texas. As of fiscal 2025, the program has connected 2,660 locations out of a planned 83,191, following two rounds of funding. To date, the BDO has awarded $634.6 million for BOOT projects, sourced from both the federal Capital Projects Fund (CPF) and the BIF, with $26.1 million expended to support ongoing or completed projects. Six projects funded in the first round of BOOT have reached a 100 percent completion milestone, while others are in various stages of progress.
The BOOT Program is striding toward bridging the digital divide and connecting more Texans to reliable, high-speed internet. These projects must be completed and operational no later than Dec. 31, 2026.
TAP Empowers Texas Communities for Broadband Success
The BDO established the Technical Assistance Program (TAP) to support communities with broadband planning by offering expert guidance and resources. All 32 counties that applied were selected after each formed a Broadband Planning Committee to identify development opportunities and prepare for upcoming funding.
As of fiscal 2025, the BDO used $2.4 million through TAP for broadband consulting services to complete and publish nine county broadband plans and made progress on finalizing an additional nine plans. The remaining counties are working with the BDO’s TAP subject matter experts to develop comprehensive roadmaps for digital progress. Those plans will be published in 2026.
Expanding Broadband Access: State Agency Partnerships Drive Progress
To better serve Texans, the BDO has joined forces with three state agencies to accelerate high-speed internet access across the state. These agency-driven projects, supported exclusively by federal CPF funding, are making significant strides in connecting underserved communities across the state.
Library Infrastructure and Facility Improvement (LIFI) Grant Program
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) was awarded $7.8 million to enhance broadband access at public libraries, with a focus on rural and low-income communities. TSLAC has signed subgrantee agreements with 36 libraries, including expansions for seven libraries to reach unserved branches in areas of the state that have suffered long-term economic hardship. The LIFI program is expected to benefit more than 1 million Texans through fiber installation, facility upgrades and digital projects like telehealth and job training labs. To support sustainability, TSLAC hired an IT coach for reporting and grant management and ongoing planning support and training. These projects must be completed and operational no later than Dec. 31, 2026.
Texas Rural Hospital Broadband Program
The Texas Department of Agriculture was awarded $22.9 million to enhance broadband capacity in rural hospitals across the state. Participating hospitals are using the funds to purchase workstations on wheels, telemedicine computers, servers, port switches and other equipment to boost provider mobility, improve point-of-care documentation and upgrade outdated networks. These upgrades enable more efficient workflows and higher-quality virtual consultations for remote patients. Several hospitals have already spent all the awarded funds and are now submitting closeout reports, marking significant progress. These projects must be completed and operational no later than Dec. 31, 2026.
El Paso District Safety Rest Area Broadband Project
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) El Paso District has been awarded $6 million to expand broadband at six safety rest areas (SRAs) in West Texas. Located in El Paso, Hudspeth and Culberson counties, these SRAs will serve as digital access points for rural residents who may otherwise lack reliable internet due to geography or affordability. TxDOT has completed all design reviews and remains on schedule for construction letting in January 2026. By providing free, high-speed internet at these community hubs, the project offers a crucial lifeline for residents and travelers, bridging the digital divide in the Upper Rio Grande region. This project must be completed and operational no later than Dec. 31, 2026.
