Legislative Services

The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) decided against a planned Jan. 1 refresh of the Texas Broadband Development Map. Instead, the office urges users to refer to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) National Broadband Map as the primary data source.

This decision includes moving on from the mapping vendor, LightBox, to ensure the most accurate and comprehensive picture of broadband serviceability in Texas is provided. Two primary purposes drive this move: 1) align the Texas map with the federal map and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program; 2) define reliable broadband more accurately.

Section 490I.0105 of the Texas Government Code directs the BDO to use the best data sources available, including the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection, to achieve this goal.

The Local Government Broadband Roundtable meets virtually on the first Thursday of every month at 10 a.m. These meetings exist to inform local elected officials and their staff members and other community-based organizations working to provide their constituents with reliable, affordable internet access. The next meeting will be on Feb. 1, and the meeting link can be used for every future meeting.

For more information about this article, please contact Megan Molleur at (800) 456‑5974.