Thread by @TexasTribune

1/ The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the importance of high-speed internet access, but more than 9 million Texans don’t have a broadband internet connection.

The state is one of six that don’t have a broadband plan to expand internet access to everyone. bit.ly/3soy2QJ

2/ Texans who are less likely to have internet connectivity are:
+ Poor
+ Elderly
+ Speak English as a second language
+ Have less education bit.ly/3lJbuHB

3/ Gov. Greg Abbott included expanding broadband access in his priorities for this legislative session.

But while much of the focus has been on rural areas of the state, many poor Texans in urban areas also lack access. bit.ly/31kvZRP

4/ Not being connected to the internet makes it harder to social distance, have good health and find a job.

People — including the elderly — may have to go out to see a doctor or shop because they don't have access to telemedicine. bit.ly/3lJbuHB

5/ Children who don’t have internet access are disproportionately underachieving or attending underperforming schools.

“We may lose a year or more of children’s education ..." said one expert/former oficial. bit.ly/3lJbuHB

6/ About 25% of people over 65 years old don’t have access to broadband internet.

“Who are the people in America who are most susceptible to this pandemic? ... They’re all senior citizens,” said Larry Irving. bit.ly/3lJbuHB

7/ Network phone service is more expensive to provide in rural areas, with fewer customers and longer distances between them. bit.ly/3r8XbNO

8/ The Rio Grande Valley has some of the higher levels of poverty in Texas as well as many communities without broadband infrastructure.

In the unincorporated neighborhoods outside major towns known as "colonias," people are frustrated. bit.ly/3soy2QJ

9/ The challenge of broadband access in urban areas is overlooked, said the state program director for Connected Nation Texas.

The six biggest urban counties in Texas have more than 590,000 households without internet subscriptions. bit.ly/3soy2QJ

10/ In January, more than a million rural Texas households faced the threat of losing phone and internet service after the state cut the amount of money it typically pays to providers. bit.ly/3r8XbNO

11/ Normally, the state reimburses telecommunication companies through the Texas Universal Service Fund for providing internet service for over a million rural households.

But the fund has been bleeding money for the past five years. bit.ly/3r8XbNO

12/ There are three main challenges:
+ Building the infrastructure to support high-speed internet
+ People’s ability to pay for it
+ Ability to use it once they get it — which requires digital literacy bit.ly/3soy2QJ

13/ Texas lawmakers filed several bills aimed at improving broadband access.

House Bill 5 and Senate Bill 5 would:
+ Create a broadband council to form a long-term strategy to promote access
+ Map the quality of internet connections in Texas
bit.ly/3soy2QJ

14/14 State Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, authored the House bill and said it has bipartisan support among lawmakers who represent urban, suburban and rural areas. bit.ly/3soy2QJ