WESLACO, Texas - The Texas Broadband Development Office Connect Texas regional public meetings have been scheduled and the one to be held in the Rio Grande Valley will take place on July 18.
The BDO’s South Texas Regional Meeting will be held at the offices of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council (LRGVDC) building in Weslaco on July 18, from 9:00-11:00 AM.
Manuel Cruz, director of the LRGVDC and co-organizer of the RGV Broadband Coalition, is urging Valley residents to attend the meeting. But first, he said, register to attend.
“High-speed internet connectivity means increased access to the online world. With internet connection, people can access a tele-health appointment, work from home or video chat with friends and family far away. Having access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet and having the skills to use it can increase quality of life and opportunity for Texans,” Cruz said.
Cruz said the BDO, LRGVDC, and the BDO’s South Texas regional working group are hosting a “community conversation” about the needs and priorities of Valley communities for the “billions of dollars” the state is receiving to bring internet connectivity to all residents.
“The Texas Broadband Development Office wants to hear from you,” Cruz said. “Communities around the state are meeting to discuss internet connectivity in their region. So, your voice matters. Having widespread input will help the BDO develop a comprehensive state plan.”
Jordana Barton-Garcia is senior fellow at Connect Humanity. She is also one of the South Texas representatives on the BDO Statewide Working Group and co-organizer with Cruz of the RGV Broadband Coalition.
Barton-Garcia pointed out that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which is housed in the Department of Commerce, recently announced that Texas is more federal funding for broadband than any other state - $3.3 billion in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funding. The BEAD program came about thanks to the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA).
They (BDO) want to hear from the community, so broad involvement (at the Weslaco meeting) is important,” Barton-Garcia wrote, in an email to Valley stakeholders. “We still have a lot of work to do and that’s why your involvement is so important.”
Barton-Garcia wrote: “As key members of the planning process, you can help to spread the word to ensure that residents, local governments, business, agriculture, education, healthcare, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations can join the conversation and share their priorities.
“As your representative on the BDO Statewide Working Group and co-organizer, along with Manny Cruz (LRGVDC), of the RGV Broadband Coalition, we would like to help be sure the community knows about the event and can make the time to participate. We also have a great deal to share with the BDO regarding our RGV Broadband Coalition and working groups.”
Editor's Note: To register for the July 18 meeting in Weslaco, click here.
Editor's Note: The split screen image accompanying the above news story shows Jordana Barton-Garcia and Manuel Cruz.
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), located within the Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency principally responsible by law for advising the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for continued innovation and economic growth. These goals are critical to America’s competitiveness in the modern global economy and to addressing many of the nation’s most pressing needs, such as improving education, health care, and public safety. In addition to working with other Executive Branch agencies to develop Administration positions, NTIA represents the Executive Branch in both domestic and international telecommunications and information policy activities. NTIA is also a leading source of research and data on the status of broadband availability and adoption in America.
On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. This Act includes an investment of $65 billion to help close the digital divide and ensure that all Americans have access to reliable, high speed, and affordable broadband. This investment builds upon the funding for broadband deployment provided in the American Rescue Plan, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, the FCC’s Universal Service program, and USDA’s Rural Utilities Service broadband programs. The investment aims to lay critical groundwork for widespread access and affordability of broadband, creating new jobs and economic opportunities, providing increased access to healthcare services, enriching educational experiences of students, and improving overall quality of life for all Americans.
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