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Outreach: News and Events
Key Dates and Upcoming Events
(All times are in Central Standard Time.)
- April 30, 2024 – Industry Roundtable, 3 p.m.
- May 2, 2024 – Local Government and Community Roundtable, 10 a.m.
NTIA Accepts the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan (TDOP)
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) accepted the TDOP on March 28, 2024. The TDOP sets the BDO’s vision and goals for digital opportunity in the state, assesses the current state of access and barriers to digital opportunities, outlines how we will collaborate with stakeholders to address challenges and describes the strategies and actions we will take to serve covered populations throughout Texas.
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) released for State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program (SDECPG)
The NTIA released the NOFO for the SDECGP (PDF) on March 29, 2024. The NOFO states that Texas is allocated $55.6 million to implement the TDOP. NTIA will release this funding in three tranches with the first round due to be delivered by Aug. 28, 2024. The BDO will apply for this funding by the deadline of May 28, 2024.
Technical Assistance Program (TAP) Webpage Now Available
The BDO has launched a new TAP to help Texas communities bridge the digital divide. TAP will provide essential resources to local governments and communities to prepare for forthcoming state and federal funds and identify localized opportunities. All Texas counties can apply to the program, which offers several services, including stakeholder identification and outreach, asset mapping, gap analysis, public-private partnership identification and analysis, workforce development strategy, digital opportunities strategy and network design assessments. Participants will receive a County Broadband Plan with actionable steps to achieve their broadband goals.
For more details, visit the TAP program webpage for details.
NTIA Approves Volume I of Texas’ Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Initial Proposal
The BDO is proud to share that Texas' Initial Proposal for the BEAD Program received approval for Volume 1 from the NTIA on April 11, 2024. The BDO is eagerly preparing for the BEAD challenge process, which is set to commence this summer. The office will provide guidance for participation in the challenge process in the coming months.
Volume II of the Initial Proposal is still under review at NTIA. The BDO will provide additional updates as it works through the approval process with NTIA.
For more details, visit the IIJA BEAD Program webpage.
BDO Administrative Rule Amendments Effective; Proposed Amendments to Texas Pole Replacement Rules Posted for Public Comment
The BDO submitted proposed amendments to its administrative rules to the Texas Register on October 2, 2023. Between October 13 and November 12, 2023, the public was invited to submit comments on the proposed amendments. Over 200 comments were received. On March 4, 2024, the BDO filed rule adoptions with the Texas Register. The amended administrative rules were published on March 22, 2024, and went into effect on March 24, 2024.
The BDO has also submitted to the Texas Register proposed amendments to the Texas Pole Replacement Program administrative rules. The proposed amendments will remain posted for public comment until May 5, 2024. Feedback can be submitted to broadband@cpa.texas.gov.
BDO is Hiring!!
- Broadband Digital Opportunity Coordinator (Program Specialist IV)
- Broadband Digital Opportunity Specialist (Program Specialist III)
- Broadband Program Specialist (Specialist III)
- Broadband Digital Opportunity Data Coordinator (Program Specialist IV)
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