FISCAL NOTES SEPTEMBER 2023 | 7 Building Strong Infrastructure for a Growing Texas EXHIBIT 1 BROADBAND FUNDING FOR TEXAS Note: Another $1.5 billion for broadband and telecommunications projects would be made available through general revenue if voters approve Proposition 8 in the November election. Source: Texas Broadband Development Office BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE – CONNECTING TEXAS Broadband infrastructure describes the physical equipment and facilities that enable high-speed and high-capacity transmission of data, voice and video over the internet. Bringing fast internet service to Texas’ wide-open spaces is a challenge that state leaders and lawmakers have been working hard to address — notably with the creation of the Broadband Development Office (BDO) under the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in 2021. This year, the 88th Legislature built on its work with a proposed constitutional amendment that — if approved by voters in November — will create the Broadband Infrastructure Fund to direct $1.5 billion to broadband and telecommunications projects. Funding is important because the high cost of deploying broadband infrastructure throughout the state has been the highest hurdle for access (Exhibit 1). This challenge has been addressed in prominent federal measures, including those passed after the nation was struck by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic highlighted the critical need for reliable, affordable access to broadband for remote work, education, health care and civic engagement. Many Texans, especially in rural areas, lack access to broadband service that meets the minimum speed requirements of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 3 Mbps upload. According to experts, it takes 0-5 Mbps to check email, stream music on one device and search the internet. Downloading large files $3.5 $3.0 $2.5 $2.0 $1.5 $1.0 $0.5 $0 ? ? IN BILLIONS $5 MILLION $500.5 MILLION State General Revenue American Rescue Plan Act - Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) - Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program IIJA - The Digital Equity Act $3.3 BILLION TO BE DETERMINED FEDERAL ALLOCATIONS FOR U.S. $9.8 Billion $42.5 Billion $2.75 Billion ALLOCATED FUNDS NOT FULLY ALLOCATED FUNDING TO TEXAS BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE Comptroller Glenn Hegar spoke to the media during 2022’s statewide Broadband Listening Tour, where Texans shared the impacts of broadband on their lives and businesses. 35 DEALERS’ CHOICE
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