Texas county looks to task force to help close digital divide
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By
Chris Teale
Harris County, the most populous in the state, established its broadband task force in November to advise on projects, initiatives and other efforts to boost connectivity.
Harris County is the most populous county in Texas and third most in the nation, but it is still dogged by a digital divide, and now local leaders are looking to close it for good.
The county, which has over 4.7 million residents and contains major urban population centers like Houston, estimates that over 155,000 households lack broadband subscriptions, while 220,000 households rely on smartphones for internet access.
Harris County acted last year by establishing its Broadband Task Force, a 16-member body composed of representatives from county departments, the private and nonprofit sectors, academia and the community. Appointments are slated for this month after its bylaws and structure received unanimous approval.
Ryan Salmon, a broadband planning analyst at Harris County Universal Services, said in an email the task force will “share knowledge, and develop informed recommendations for the Commissioners Court,” which is responsible for local governance. Salmon added the task force will “also advise on which broadband projects to implement and identify potential funding strategies to support them."
The Harris County Commissioners Court unanimously authorized the Universal Services department to establish the Broadband Task Force last June. At the time, county Chief Information Officer and Universal Services Executive Director Sindhu Menon said in a statement that the “the solution is not a one size fits all, there are unique needs in each precinct.”
Formation of the task force came on the heels of the unveiling of the Harris County Broadband Roadmap, which county officials said would be a “pivotal tool” as it provides a “county-wide strategic blueprint for expanding Internet access and affordability by strengthening broadband infrastructure and increasing coordination efforts across departments, communities, and external partners.” It also helps address digital literacy and equity efforts in the region.
The roadmap was written in partnership with US Ignite, a nonprofit that helps communities solve economic development and technological challenges. It calls for partnerships to strengthen coordination, more infrastructure and opportunities to allow residents to build their skills and improve access to affordable devices.
Among its recommendations, the roadmap included establishing a task force, as well as urging officials to modernize permitting; secure public-private partnership agreements; find sustainable funding; and take part in statewide and regional coalitions to help align policy priorities and budgetary needs.
Nick Maynard, US Ignite’s co-founder and CEO, said in an interview last year that the group has worked with more than 50 communities on similar efforts, and it’s crucial to meet them “where they’re at” in tailoring a roadmap.
“Some communities are just starting out in the planning process,” Maynard said at the time. “Others have a vision, but maybe they've done a few pilot projects or smaller efforts and had a hard time scaling them or making those sustainable. We spend a lot of time with the community, identifying, working with them on that vision, bringing together a steering group. Not just city departments, but lots of other stakeholders, whether that's the university or the utility or local industry, local nonprofits. You want to make sure everyone has a seat at the table to weigh in on the challenges that the community is facing.”
Salmon echoed that sentiment, and said the most effective way for communities of all sizes to start planning to close the digital divide is by understanding residents’ needs.
“This foundational step will help guide the focus of the task force and ensure alignment with your community's goals,” he said. “Additionally, reach out to see what your peer communities have done. From our experience, others working to close the digital divide are eager to help and share their insights and experiences.”
The effort comes at an intriguing time for broadband deployment in the U.S., as the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program from the federal government has been tweaked significantly, in ways that a government watchdog said were illegal. Meanwhile, states are having their revised BEAD plans approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, including Texas, which won approval in November for a plan that NTIA said saved $2 billion.
That may mean less money to go around and help fund local projects like this one in Harris County. In light of everything, Salmon said there is “still a lot of support and momentum needed towards closing the digital divide and connecting unserved communities.”