Texas Broadband Development Office Seeks Feedback from Communities for Digital Opportunity Plan

Press release published by the Texas Broadband Development Office

Broadband Development Office Invites Community Members to Public Meeting

Texarkana, Texas (July 19, 2023) — The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) is asking the public to attend a meeting regarding internet accessibility, affordability, and usage. The BDO, administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, will accept feedback from this meeting to help develop the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan, which is required to draw down federal funding for connecting Texans to reliable, high-speed internet. The BDO expects to complete the plan this fall.

The public meeting will be held on Monday, July 31, from 2-4 pm, at the Southwest Center (ABC Meeting Room), 3222 W. 7th Street, Texarkana, Texas 75501.

The public is encouraged to register for the event at http://bit.ly/TxBDOPublicMeetings.

“The Ark-Tex Council of Governments hopes everyone will understand that it is vital for the Northeast Texas area to participate in this planning process. While much of our area is considered unserved and underserved, other factors may show this region is ineligible for the planned funding if we do not clearly show a need for expanded broadband service,” said Chris Brown, Executive Director, Ark-Tex Council of Governments. “This meeting is for residents, businesses, internet service providers, local governments, and officials to participate so your voices will be heard in Austin.”

Area residents, business owners, and representatives from faith-based, non-profit organizations, local schools, and hospitals, those in agriculture and local industry, and others are all welcome to attend and provide input for the plan.

The July 31 event is one of 24 public meetings taking place across Texas.