The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) is making $729.9 million available to build last-mile broadband connections for more than 97,000 underserved locations across the state.
The CPA’s Broadband Development Office (BDO) has opened a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) 2 Program. This will be the second round of funding for the BOOT program. The NOFA for BOOT 2 is scheduled to close Aug. 26, 2024. Awards will range between $1 million and $125 million.
The BOOT program is a competitive grant initiative to deploy and expand broadband infrastructure projects in historically socio-economically disadvantaged areas. These communities either have limited or no access to broadband services. Projects that receive funding will provide and improve high-speed internet service to households and businesses.
Eligible participants to submit a proposed project for funding include:
Political subdivisions of the state.
Commercial broadband service providers.
Non-commercial broadband service providers.
Partnership of any of the above.
Entities that receive awards are not required to match funds. However, applicants who include matching funds as part of their submission will receive preferential consideration.
The BDO selected two counties in each of the state’s 12 economic regions to be eligible for the BOOT 2 Program. All projects will be limited to a single eligible county, but applicants can bid on multiple counties to serve. In addition, participants must provide a narrative supporting why the project is necessary. Submissions must include:
An executive summary that provides an abridged view of the project.
A project description that includes offered service speeds, technical details, technologies used and cost details.
A description of prior experiences with federal or state grants for deploying broadband services or infrastructure.
A proposed pricing strategy for broadband services.
A low-cost option for customers.
A description of how the project will impact the community, including how it will increase broadband adoption through digital literacy programs, efforts to increase access to devices, pricing transparency and workforce development.
A statement of how the middle-mile infrastructure will be non-discriminatorily accessible for other providers.
Finished projects must deliver reliable services that provide symmetrical internet speeds of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps). However, if topography, geography or cost would make achieving that quality of service unfeasible, the CPA may approve projects that meet or exceed 100 megabits per second (Mbps). Participants must complete their proposed projects by Dec. 31, 2026.
The CPA made up to $120 million available through the program’s first round in 2023. From that amount, BOOT 1 allocated $12.3 million to grant recipients. The program is funded in part by the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (CPF) and state revenue.
Photo courtesy of the Texas comptroller’s office
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