San Antonio- Americans who live in rural areas are still awaiting the national government’s$ 42 billion commitment to provide high-speed computer that is affordable.
The News 4 I-Team reported last year that, after four years, not a single user had been connected through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment system.
Jaie Avila information in the Waste Watch release that rules and competition are also causing delays.
A map of Texas is being created to show which areas now have high-speed internet and which areas don’t have service or have slow, unreliable connections.
In our initial report from October, we highlighted how families in rural places still struggle to find reliable, affordable online. Making health care and online education challenging.
” Sending emails is, especially if you have a lot of accessories, they won’t go”, said remote world customer Cindy Hansen.
” If you’re no connected, you’re at a disadvantage”, her husband Ron Hansen added.
Back in 2021the Biden administration’s infrastructure law set besides$ 42 billion for state and companies to expand broadband into remote areas.
Critics said the programme included costs needs, hiring rules and paperwork that caused delays.
” Part of the day that’s been taken by the administration has been putting in place DEI needs, they’ve been putting in a climate change agenda, they’ve been putting in place price controls, things that have nothing to do with fast supporting Americans”, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr told News 4 last October.
The largest honor,$ 3.3 billion, was given to Texas, which is now requesting that some of the rules be slashed in order to speed things up.
The country’s leading broadband national stated at a conference in San Antonio this month that it would begin accepting applications for that money in May.
” We’re going to run that dynamic grant process, accept applications from companies and communities, evaluate those programs, and begin making awards in early 2026, that’s our current timeline”, said Greg Conte, Director of the Texas Broadband Development Office.
Some smaller bandwidth providers accuse big online companies of exaggerating the speed of their services in rural areas. Making it appear as though communities already have sufficient coverage because they don’t like their existing customers to be robbed of their funding from the government.
” This industry’s too great, it’s not quickly, it doesn’t work as good”, said rural computer user Harold Lance.
Lance claims that the web he pays$ 90 per month for is not as hard as it advertised, and that he hopes a state program will provide more accessible options.
” You know you’re just as good as your reputation you phrase, if you say you’re going to do something, you put this money here you say you’re going to do it then do it”, said Lance.
The condition claims that it enables people to challenge internet service providers who they believe have overstated their online speeds. According to the statement, the process will ensure that their image will show where government funds are most needed.