Texas Broadband Development Office
The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) has released its draft of the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan (TDOP) for public comment through Jan. 5, 2024.
“We encourage all Texans to review the plan and provide their valuable feedback,” reads a BDO press release.
“The BDO will use the final TDOP to access additional federal funding to implement digital opportunity initiates and achieve the goals presented in the plan. Please use the online form to read the TDOP and provide comments.”
The BDO developed the TDOP to complement broadband infrastructure programs already underway in the state, including the Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) program and the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
With a greater focus on the affordability, adoption, and safe and effective use of the internet, the TDOP aligns with requirements set forth by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in the State Digital Equity Planning Grant program’s Notice of Funding Opportunity.
The TDOP also incorporates feedback from comprehensive engagement with residents, community-based organizations, local governments, state partners, and other key stakeholders.
The TDOP public comment process is open to all Texans, and the BDO encourages residents, local governments, community-based organizations, and others to provide feedback.
The BDO is especially interested in hearing from individuals for whom broadband access, affordability, and adoption have been challenging, including adults aged 60 and older, veterans, English language learners, individuals living with disabilities, individuals who primarily live in rural areas, racial and ethnic minorities, and those living at or below the federal poverty level, as well as the organizations that serve these groups.
The Digital Equity Act of 2021, authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) will fund projects to ensure Texans and their communities have the necessary information technology capacity for full participation in society, democracy, and economy.
This act promotes a diverse range of digital advancement projects, which may include providing digital literacy and digital skills education to low-income or older populations, improving the online accessibility of social services for individuals with disabilities, or more accurately measuring broadband access and adoption in rural communities.
The BDO is currently creating the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan (TDOP), which establishes the office’s vision and goals for digital opportunity in Texas, assesses the current state of access, identifies barriers to digital opportunities, outlines how to collaborate with stakeholders to address challenges, and describes the strategies and actions we will take to achieve our vision and goals.
If you have any questions about the draft TDOP public comment process, please email digital.opportunity@cpa.texas.gov.