The Texas Broadband Development Office has announced a competitive grant program worth $30 million aimed at extending broadband access through low earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology in rural areas. This initiative is funded by the state's Broadband Infrastructure Fund and will particularly focus on regions underserved by existing programs. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar emphasized the importance of this initiative for economic growth and social connectivity. The program leverages recent advances in LEO technology, marking a significant shift in addressing the digital divide in remote communities across the state.
Expanding broadband access is critical to the economic prosperity and social well-being of all Texans. This grant program will leverage the power of LEO satellite technology to connect unserved communities and ensure Texans in remote areas of the state have the opportunity to thrive in the digital age sooner than traditional programs may allow.
LEOs are closer to earth than geosynchronous satellites. This enables them to target smaller areas and provide more interactive services.
Last month, T-Mobile said it began open registration for beta testing of T-Mobile Starlink, a partnership between the two companies that will provide coverage of the 500,000 square miles of the United States outside the range of cell towers.
Starlink led in three categories (Internet speed, whether the subscriber had to reset their router, and whether devices disconnected from the network). It was second to fiber in reported outages.
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