For 51 years, the Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy has provided a platform for tech policy experts to share their intelligence and collaborate with interdisciplinary allies. On September 23, 2023, Next Century Cities’ Senior Policy Counsels, Corian Zacher and Ryan Johnston, presented findings from Broadband Makes US Better: Lessons From the Lone Star State and research on resilience and broadband policy.

Almost one in ten U.S. residents live in Texas, where the topography ranges from coastal plains in the east to the Rocky mountains in the west, creating diverse barriers to broadband deployment. 14% of Texas residents live in poverty, and over 13% lack a home broadband subscription. Innovative community-centered broadband and digital inclusion initiatives across the state seek to improve technology outcomes for residents, even as state policy continues to hamper local autonomy.

Since 1980, Texas has experienced at least 167 natural disasters that caused over a billion dollars in damage nationwide, making it the third most impacted state in the country. With over $3.3 billion available through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program, more than any other state, Texas has a tremendous opportunity to expand and improve broadband infrastructure. Next Century Cities explained why new developments should not only provide high-speed service options, but they should also prioritize redundancy and resilience to ensure that networks remain online throughout future environmental disasters.

Access the September 23rd slideshow presentation here. Learn about broadband strategies in Texas communities – including Brownsville, Harlingen, Pharr, and Mont Belvieu – in Broadband Makes US Better: Lessons From the Lone Star State.