TCA Statement on Release of Texas Broadband Map

AUSTIN – The Texas Cable Association (TCA) issued the following statement today in connection with the release by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), of an interactive national broadband map, which includes a map and an analysis of data for Texas.  The map follows the release in June 2010 of a broadband connectivity map for Texas by Connected Texas and the Texas Department of Agriculture.

The mapping is part of the $7.2 billion national broadband stimulus plan funded through the 2009 Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The following statement can be attributed to Todd Baxter, Vice President, Government Affairs and General Counsel, of the Texas Cable Association.

“The Texas broadband connectivity map released Thursday shows that 99.5 percent of our state’s 24.5 million residents currently can access some form of broadband, whether wired or wireless.”

“TCA supports further state and federal efforts to expand broadband connectivity if they target unserved areas where no access to broadband is available. The government shouldn’t spend taxpayer money to duplicate service in areas already served by other broadband providers; unfortunately, we’ve already seen this type of wasteful spending when millions of broadband stimulus dollars were awarded before initial mapping data was released.

“In addition, TCA calls on state and federal governments to strictly oversee the use of awarded broadband stimulus funds. In today’s challenging economy, government must make sure taxpayer dollars are spent as promised and require any unused money to be returned.”

NTIA summary data for Texas: http://www.broadbandmap.gov/summarize/state/texas

The map and analysis can be found here: www.broadbandmap.gov

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TCA (www.txcable.com) has been the primary trade organization for cable operators in Texas since 1960. Follow TCA’s activities on Facebook (www.facebook.com/texascable) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/texascable).