The Broadband Team in Houston County has completed its community technology assessment. The results of this assessment can be found by clicking the symbol for each of the sections below. The Solutions sector includes recommended actions the community can implement to improve the broadband and technology ecosystem at a local level. It should be noted that much of the assessment was conducted before or at the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic. This worldwide event likely impacted many of the metrics included in this assessment.
Organizations
Broadband access refers to the infrastructure that enables a high-speed internet connection. There are two primary types of broadband connections: fixed and mobile.
Fixed broadband is delivered to a user via several technology platforms including cable, digital subscriber line (DSL) over phone line, fiber optics, and fixed wireless. Fixed broadband is designed for stationary use at a fixed location such as a home, business, or institution. From one location, however, fixed broadband service is often broadcast as a Wi-Fi network to connect nearby devices.
The map below shows broadband availability in Houston County.
Description
Houston County has expressed interest in building a broadband network for the county, using the data collected and other resources to create a build-out plan. This is a laudable goal and should be well researched to make sure this is the right path for Houston County.
Objective
To determine if this is the right path, there are three critical steps to be followed; 1) designate a broadband office and advocate; 2) assess the current state of broadband and ongoing/incoming deployments; and 3) develop a plan for building a network for the community if required. Below are some actions for the county to take:
Actions
Action 1 - Establish a Houston County Broadband Office and hire a broadband advocate.
This office can oversee RFPs/RFQs, grants, loans, subsidies, and other broadband resources coming into Houston County. It allows for all broadband information to be housed in one location. Although it is a county project, the office could work under the City of Crockett City Administrator, John Angerstein and County Judge Jim Lovell.
Action 2 - Update Houston County broadband maps to reflect service. What kind of internet service is available and what infrastructure is needed is key to ensuring the County is well served.
Launching an RFP for this work would serve Houston County well. Although fiber is currently considered the future, other fixed broadband sources like cable and fixed wireless may be adequate for the community’s needs in different parts of the County. Additionally, the County should monitor the progress of Low Earth Orbit Satellite services, such as Starlink, that has recently launched their services and are currently in the pilot phase. While these services are likely cost prohibitive at the writing of this report, it is expected that pricing will come down, and that these services will be available to the mass market in the next 12-18 months. They may offer a quality alternative to some fixed services in some of the most remote and difficult to serve locations in the county.
Action 3 – Develop a relationship with internet service providers.
The broadband advocate needs to build relationships with providers in the area and future Rural Development Opportunity Fund (RDOF) winners to make sure a network build-out is efficient and will  meet the future needs of the community. RDOF winners in the area include Charter Communications and Windstream.
Action 4 - Deploy an RFP for an experienced, knowledgeable company to design the build-out plan to the County’s specifications.Â
Understanding how to write an adequate RFP and being able to understand and evaluate the responses are important.  Connected Nation, or another organization of your choice, can offer consulting to guide the County through this process to make sure the plan is operational and makes sense for Houston County.
Responsible Parties
Judge Lovell and Crockett City Manager, Jim Angerstein, should establish the broadband office and hire the advocate immediately. Buy-in from the cities of Crockett, Grapeland, Lovelady, Latexo, and Kennard are needed to make sure everyone has input.
Resources   Â
- Removing barriers to broadband expansion: http://www.connectmycommunity.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Local-Policy-Guide.pdf
- An example of a county with online resources: https://onlinepermits.mcallen.net/Portal/default.aspx
- Becoming Broadband Ready: https://nextcenturycities.org/becoming-broadband-ready/
- Examining state broadband programs: https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2020/02/how-states-are-expanding-broadband-access
Description
The immediate need in Houston County is to increase access to fixed broadband. Seventy-nine percent of surveyed residents subscribe to fixed or mobile internet. Businesses, Agriculture, and K-12 facilities participating in the survey are also using the internet at high rates.
Objective
To increase deployment of infrastructure, the county must remove barriers to deployment. Although 25/3 Mbps speed is the current definition of broadband by the FCC, many consider this speed too slow for their needs. In Houston County, 83.32% of residents have access to 25/3 Mbps, but if we look at 100/10 Mbps speeds, the percentage of households served drops to 65.32% for household availability.
Actions
Action 1 - The county broadband advocate can work with local providers and the Rural Opportunity Development Fund (RDOF) recipients to increase access to higher broadband speeds and increase access to broadband in underserved and unserved areas.
Charter Communications will potentially receive $9,667,778 and Windstream Services is in line to receive $28,536 from RDOF. This could be a game changer for Houston County if partnerships are developed to understand where and how the money will be spent. Understanding provider plans should be considered when implementing Goal 1 above - building out broadband in Houston County. Although the money will go to the providers, the Houston County broadband advocate can work with the providers to agree on how to best serve the County’s broadband needs in the present and into the future.
Action 2 - Release an RFP to inventory potential broadband assets in Houston County and identify potential broadband providers, service offerings, and respective rates.
Work with providers to decrease the cost of deploying internet in underserved and unserved areas. This RFP can be combined with the suggested RFP under Goal 1, Action 4.
- The asset inventory will provide the County a list of existing assets that the County has that they can offer to providers to diminish their build-out expenses, such as:
- Anchor tenants
- Antennas
- Building rooftops
- Light poles
- Towers
- The RFP can determine why some areas are underserved/unserved and help create a business case for providers to offer broadband there.
Although RDOF money will significantly help build out a broadband network in Houston County, the providers have 3-10 years to complete their projects. This means some areas may not see internet service or increased speeds for many years. Working with local providers will be important for long-term solutions. Currently, Houston County is served by AirLink, Inc., Suddenlink Communications, and Windstream Communications. Windstream Communications does offer some fiber in Houston County with reported maximum speeds of 1000/1000 Mbps (1 Gbps), including 1 Gbps at the City of Crockett’s facilities.
Discuss with local providers the need to expand broadband services and ask why they have not done so to date. If providers are unwillingly to offer more plans at faster speeds, new providers should be given the opportunity.
With increased financial resources and competition in Houston County, providers may be willing to discuss providing services to underserved/unserved areas.
Action 3 - Provide resources to your community to help reduce the cost of internet service.
The survey shows the average monthly cost for internet service for residents is $82.74. The is well over other Connected communities and exceeds the 2% median household income of $63.17 in Houston County. Make resources offered by the federal government and local providers available to your community.
Responsible Parties
The broadband advocate should develop relationships with the local broadband providers, as well as establish contacts with the RDOF winners. Under guidance from the Commissioners Court, the advocate should launch approved RFPs, all responses should be reviewed and work monitored by this office. A list of questions should be asked of each provider to compare services, such as:
- Are you willing to share your network coverage map with the County?
- Is your company subject to any State/Federal regulations?
Connected Nation can provide a list of sample questions if needed.
- An updated list of loans, funding, subsidies, and grants should be maintained on the County website; http://www.co.houston.tx.us/, Crockett Area Chamber of Commerce website; https://www.crockettareachamber.org/, and the public libraries websites;Â https://crockettlibrary.com and https://www.grapelandlib.org/
- In addition, local school districts of Crockett ISD, Grapeland ISD, Kennard ISD, Latexo ISD, and Lovelady ISD should make a list of grants available. See Goal 5 for additional resources.
Resources   Â
- Removing barriers to broadband expansion: http://www.connectmycommunity.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Local-Policy-Guide.pdf
- Examining state broadband programs: https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2020/02/how-states-are-expanding-broadband-access
- Becoming Broadband Ready: https://nextcenturycities.org/becoming-broadband-ready/
- Example of a county with online resources: https://onlinepermits.mcallen.net/Portal/default.aspx
- Website of updated discount offers sorted by ZIP codes: Â https://www.everyoneon.org/find-offers
Description
Survey results show that residents, businesses, agriculture, and other community sectors are somewhat comfortable with their digital skills. Businesses view training and having a digital competent workforce important.
Objective
Offering digital training skills to your community will increase adoption and use of the internet in Houston County.
Actions
Action 1 - Partner with Crockett Public Library, Grapeland Public library, Crockett Area Chamber of Commerce, Crockett Economic & Industrial Development Corporation, and Houston County Career Women to host digital skills training.Â
Classes can cover topics such as:
- Digital skill classes
- Website building classes
- Social media classes
- Telehealth classes
This initiative can be designed and housed in the new broadband office and overseen by the broadband advocate and the Commissioners Court. The courses can be taught by local non-profits, for-profits, Crockett Area Chamber of Commerce, Houston County Career Women, Crockett Economic & Industrial Development Corporation, local experts, or sourced online.
Action 2 - Expand Wi-Fi and/or hotspots to offer training to the underserved/unserved population at a discounted rate or free of charge.
Providing access to digital skills training provides more equity in the community, this can be done by providing enough free Wi-Fi and hotspots for the population to participate.
Expanding access to public Wi-Fi can be done by offering free Wi-Fi at:
- Libraries
- Public schools
- Coffee shops
- Higher education facilities
- Public Government buildings
Responsible Parties
The local advocate for broadband can design a plan for the Commissioners Court to approve. Superintendents of Crockett ISD, Grapeland ISD, Kennard ISD, Latexo ISD, and Lovelady ISD can offer advice as to where underserved/unserved populations are located. The Crockett Chamber of Commerce should be consulted.
Resources   Â
- American Library Association: PLA, AT&T team up to bring digital literacy training to families:Â http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2021/05/pla-att-team-bring-digital-literacy-training-families
- AARP Joins with Nonprofit to Teach Tech to Older Adults: AARP
- Connected Nation Initiative: https://www.driveyourlearning.org/
- Telehealth information: https://connectednation.org/telehealth/
- Digital Learn Curriculum: Public Library Association
Description
Crockett ISD reports that 1:1 devices and hot spots are available for students, but surveys suggest other area school districts may not have 1:1 devices or hotspots available for their students.
Objective
Each Superintendent of Crockett ISD, Latexo ISD, Grapeland ISD, Kennard ISD, and Lovelady ISD should review funds they are currently using, and make sure they are applying for all the funds that are available.
Actions
Action 1 - K-12 schools should review their funding programs and apply for all available grants and subsidies. Â
Resources such as E-Rate, Emergency Connectivity Fund, and TEACT should be utilized to its fullest availability for students in Houston County. Closing the digital divide for rural students allows for equity, access, and opportunity comparable to their counterparts in more urban school districts.
Responsible Parties
Superintendents of each listed public school district. The IT department of each ISD, and the school librarians.
Resources Â
- Explore E-Rate internet providers: https://connectk12.org/districts/140776
- Emergency Connectivity Fund: Although applications are closed, this information was sent out to County leaders when it opened. Opened June 29, 2021, Closed August 13, 2022 https://www.pwbts.net/emergency-connectivity-fund/
- TEA Connect Texas (TEACT): TEACT will partner with districts and low-cost, high-speed internet providers to connect students to the internet who have access to existing broadband infrastructure. https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/covid/Operation-Connectivity-LEA-Briefing-Webinar-PPT.pdf
- AT&T offers community investments to bring broadband to more Americans: https://about.att.com/story/2021/digital_divide.html
- Texas Grant Watch: https://texas.grantwatch.com/grant-search.php
Description
With a poverty rate of over 20%, residents will benefit from learning more about services available to them. This includes programs offered by providers, such as the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program which was launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These programs are currently available, so the county can begin promoting them as soon as possible.
Objective
Houston County should promote low-cost broadband offerings in the community to increase broadband adoption.
Actions
Action 1 - Research low-cost internet service offerings in the community.Â
The broadband advocate should gather necessary information about private or federal programs to subsidize internet access by reaching out to providers and researching options. Some resources are provided below:
- Visit https://www.everyoneon.org/ to find local low-cost, high-speed internet offers by ZIP code, or contact local providers listed in this plan to determine their offers.
- The FCC administers the Lifeline program that provides a $9.25 per month subsidy for the purchase of voice telephone service, including mobile, and broadband for low-income households; more information can be found at https://www.lifelinesupport.org/.
- The FCC recently launched the temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit Program which provides a discount on monthly internet bills ($50 per month or $75 per month on Tribal lands), plus $100 to purchase a device, for qualifying low-income households. To find out which providers are offering this service go to https://getemergencybroadband.org/companies-near-me/
Action 2 – Distribute this information to local organizations to share with their constituents.
These organizations include school systems: Crockett ISD, Latexo ISD, Grapeland ISD, Kennard ISD, and Lovelady ISD, library systems, and other community anchor institutions that provide services to low-income residents.
Action 3 - Promote these low-cost offerings via government and community organization websites.
The broadband advocate must ensure that information about these programs is widely promoted to the community via websites and in print.
Responsible Parties
The broadband advocate should gather necessary information and coordinate with stakeholders across the county to promote low-cost services for vulnerable communities.
Resources
- Broadband Benefit: https://www.usac.org/about/emergency-broadband-benefit-program/application-and-eligibility-resources/household-eligibility/in
- Lifeline – Low-Income Texas residents can qualify for help in paying their monthly cell phone: http://pdi.blogs.rice.edu/files/2018/07/cropped-PDI-Banner-1rbxcxj.png 2
- Website of updated discount offers sorted by ZIP code: https://www.everyoneon.org/find-offers
