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Outreach: News and Events
Monthly Roundtables
(All times are in Central Time.)
- April 29 at 3 p.m. – Industry Roundtable (Teams)
- May 1 at 10 a.m. – Local Government and Community Roundtable (Teams)
Upcoming Events
- Feb. 12-May 14 at 1 p.m. – Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Subgrantee Selection Webinar Series (Webinar series information and registration)
- May 14 – BEAD pre-registration ends
- May 15 – BEAD Subgrantee Selection Process begins*
- May 23 – Texas Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Broadband Program applications due by 2 p.m.
* Date subject to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) approval of the BDO's challenge determinations submitted April 1.
BEAD Pre-registration Now Open; Round 1 Application Window to Open May 15
Pre-registration for the BEAD Subgrantee Selection Process is now open. Applicants can log in to the application portal to submit Forms One and Two, which cover administrative and qualification materials.
The BDO plans to release the Texas BEAD Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and open the Round 1 application window on May 15, pending NTIA’s required approval of the BDO’s successful challenge process. In addition to Forms 1 and 2, applications for Round 1 will include Form 3, which covers project-specific information; applications will be due 60 days after the application window opens.
The Challenge Process final determination file has been submitted to NTIA for review and approval. Once approved, the BDO will publish a full list of eligible locations for the BEAD Program in Texas on the office’s website.
Note: Forthcoming programmatic revisions from the federal government may cause further delays. Please stay tuned for the latest updates.
BDO Launches Texas Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Broadband Program to Boost Rural Connectivity
The BDO released a NOFA for the Texas LEO Satellite Broadband Program (LEO Program) on April 9. The program aims to explore the feasibility of using satellite technology to enhance broadband access in hard-to-reach rural areas that lack connectivity due to geographical challenges.
Funding will be awarded to qualified applicants to establish high-speed, low-latency satellite internet to eligible unserved locations. The LEO Program will start with a pilot phase encompassing a limited block of initial network reservations. As the number of subscriptions increase, the program may incrementally expand up to 10,000 locations. Applications will be accepted through May 23, 2025, at 2 p.m.
Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) II: Expanding Texas Broadband Access
The BOOT II Program is making significant strides to expand access. With a total investment of $623.4 million from the federal Capital Projects Fund and the state’s Broadband Infrastructure Fund, BOOT II will connect more than 81,000 unserved locations across 21 Texas counties.
All award determinations for the BOOT II program have been made, and information regarding the awardees and project progress is available on the BDO's website.
Key achievements will include:
- 15 counties fully connected with fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), delivering symmetrical speeds of 1 Gbps.
- Six counties connected through a hybrid approach of FTTH (1 Gbps symmetrical) and wireless technology (at least 100 Mbps symmetrical).
BOOT II is a crucial effort by the BDO to bridge the digital divide and bring vital online opportunities to communities across the state. Funded projects must be completed and operational no later than Dec. 31, 2026.
Broadband Workforce Development Funds
The BDO is creating a competitive workforce development grant program that will launch later this spring. This initiative will build and expand accessible training opportunities to support the broadband industry across the state. The program's goal is to ensure Texas has a skilled workforce ready to meet the state’s ambitious broadband deployment targets.
More details, including application guidelines and how to apply, will be available when the BDO publishes a NOFA. Please stay tuned.
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