Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced that a $29 million grant has been awarded to the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) by the Broadband Development Office (BDO). The grant will allow LCRA to expand high-speed internet access in rural communities and strengthen flood-monitoring systems across Central Texas.
This project builds on the authority granted to LCRA by SB 632 of the 87th Legislature. The bill authorized LCRA to develop and operate middle-mile broadband infrastructure to help close the digital divide in rural Texas. Under this model, LCRA builds and operates the core fiber network, while private internet service providers (ISPs) connect to it and deliver service directly to homes, businesses and institutions.
The $29 million BDO grant will support three interconnected components of the project:
- Improving network access points so ISPs can more easily and affordably connect to LCRA’s fiber backbone and pass savings on to customers.
- Upgrading and expanding tower sites and connectivity for flood-monitoring stations.
- Extending fiber capacity into rural areas where coverage gaps remain, boosting local economies and improving access to essential services.
More information about the BDO can be found on the Comptroller’s website. The full press release from the Comptroller can be found here.
