Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced the award Jan. 20.
The details
The Texas Broadband Development Office expects the financing to accomplish several goals, including:
- Extending fiber into underserved and unserved areas
- Bolstering local economies
- Improving access to education, health care and emergency services
Zooming in
The Texas Broadband Development Office will utilize the $29 million grant to soon begin expanding its own core fiber network, according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
“This grant helps us do two important things at once," Phil Wilson, LCRA's general manager, said in the news release. "We can make LCRA's fiber network accessible to internet providers who want to serve rural customers, and we can expand connectivity for flood monitoring systems across the region.”
Some background
The Texas Legislature authorized LCRA in 2021 to develop and operate “middle-mile” broadband infrastructure, which connects private internet service providers, or ISPs, and their networks to a core fiber network.
Notable quote
“We already have the infrastructure in place that can be expanded to meet the growing demand,” Wilson said. “Now we're putting it to work for both broadband access and public safety.”
Also of note
A $43.1 million grant, awarded to Bastrop County through the Texas Broadband Development Office, will connect more than 10,000 Bastrop County homes and businesses to high-speed internet.
The project, which is currently underway, is expected to be completed in late 2026, according to Bastrop County officials.
“This total investment isn’t just about internet service—it’s about opportunity,” Bastrop County Precinct 4 Commissioner David Glass previously said in a statement.
