SECTION 16.21. Broadband Development Map

(a) The comptroller shall create, update annually, and publish on the comptroller's website a broadband development map depicting the availability of broadband service for each broadband serviceable location in this state. The office shall use the best available information, including information available from the Federal Communications Commission, political subdivisions, and broadband service providers, to create or update the map.

(b) Except as provided by subsection (c) of this section, for the purpose of developing the broadband development map, the scope of a designated area in this state shall consist of a county.

(c) If the comptroller determines that developing the broadband development map at the county level is not technically feasible or practical, the comptroller may develop the map using a smaller geographic unit for which information is available from the Federal Communications Commission.

(d) The comptroller shall, at a minimum, display for each designated area on the broadband development map:

(1) each unserved, underserved, and served broadband serviceable location;

(2) an indication of whether each broadband serviceable location is ineligible to receive funding on account of an existing federal commitment to deploy qualifying broadband service;

(3) the number of broadband service providers that serve the designated area;

(4) an indication of whether the designated area has access to internet service that is not broadband service, regardless of the technology used to provide the service;

(5) each public school campus with an indication of whether the public school campus has access to broadband service; and

(6) the number and percentage of unserved, underserved, and served broadband serviceable locations within the designated area.

Source Note: The provisions of this §16.21 adopted to be effective March 24, 2024, 49 TexReg 1949