Texas has earned final approval from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) proposal, becoming the 19th eligible entity to receive a positive response.
NTIA also noted that 18 other final BEAD proposals were approved earlier this month, a signal that reforms to the program are moving more quickly.
In NTIA’s release, Texas was highlighted as the last state to submit its initial BEAD proposal, with the final plan due last Friday. The agency said Texas beat that deadline by nearly a month thanks to reforms designed to accelerate BEAD and reduce paperwork burdens.
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth said the state “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,” and that the approval’s speed “speaks volumes about the strength and thoughtfulness of Texas’ proposal.”
Governor Greg Abbott and Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock commented on the decision. Abbott emphasized broadband infrastructure as essential for all Texans’ access to fast, reliable internet, while Hancock argued the approval would bolster the economy across the state’s 254 counties.
The NTIA release also notes that the BEAD program reforms are working to shorten wait times and expand access to broadband across Texas and beyond.
