News
The Lone Star State has won approval for their final BEAD proposal from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
By Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
NTIA officials have approved the final proposal from Texas for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
The approval, announced late last week, makes Texas the 19th eligible entity to gain a positive response from NTIA.
Earlier this month, final proposals from 18 states and territories were also approved by NTIA.
With their announcement, NTIA said approval of the Lone Star State’s final BEAD proposal demonstrates how reforms to the program are working.
As the announcement highlights, Texas was the last state to submit their initial BEAD proposal to NTIA. As such, the state’s final proposal would not have been due until Friday of last week.
“Thanks to NTIA’s efforts to accelerate BEAD and eliminate unnecessary burdens, and the state’s diligent work to deliver a compliant, high-quality application, Texas beat this deadline by nearly a month,” NTIA’s release stated. “NTIA was then able to grant expeditious approval, shaving months off Texans’ wait time for broadband access.”
Roth claims Texas secured $2 billion in savings
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth said she was excited to announce the news.
“They say everything is bigger in Texas, and we certainly saw that with the effort put forth in their BEAD Final Proposal,” Roth said. “Texas worked incredibly hard to deliver the Benefit of the Bargain—ensuring a fair evaluation of diverse technologies while securing over $2 billion dollars in savings.”
She also said the fact that the proposal was approved so quickly “speaks volumes about the strength and thoughtfulness of Texas’ proposal.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock also offered comment in NTIA’s release.
“Broadband infrastructure is essential to ensure all Texans – urban and rural – have access to fast, reliable internet,” Abbott said, before thanking the Trump administration.
Hancock, meanwhile, said the approval will bolster the economy of each of the state’s 254 counties.
“The Texas broadband plan reflects our state’s commitment to responsible stewardship and to creating an environment where families, students, and businesses can continue to thrive for generations to come,” Hancock said.
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