In his State of the State Address Monday night, Governor Greg Abbott elevated access to broadband to a state emergency issue. While it has been widely reported he meant rural broadband, his actual words address every zip code in the state. This is a legislative priority for your Chamber of Commerce.
“From medicine to education to business, broadband access is not a luxury—it is an essential tool that must be available for all Texans. That’s why I am making the expansion of broadband access an emergency item this session.”
While 88% of broadband deserts are in rural Texas, there are lower-income areas throughout the Metroplex where providers have not installed towers because they are economically unprofitable. Rates for broadband are often beyond the ability to pay off many low-income city dwellers.
Being identified as an emergency by the Governor allows bills to be heard in committee, debated on the floor and passed within the first 60-days of the legislative session. Non-emergency bills can be introduced, but not debated during the first 60-days of a session.
We are tracking two broadband bills, HB425 and SB154, both seek to establish funds to begin to pay for the expansion of rural broadband. No bills have yet been introduced to address a statewide broadband plan. Texas is one of a very few states without a plan to extend broadband into every census tract in the state.
The other emergency items were protecting Texas businesses from frivolous lawsuits, reforming bail processes and preventing cities from defunding their police.
To view the Chamber’s legislative agenda for the 87th Texas legislature, CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE to watch Governor Greg Abbott’s complete State of the State Address.