BG R&A Note RE Austin Texas - Broadband Expansion

Austin Texas - Broadband Expansion

By: Hannah Garcia, Associate

Definitions: 

  • ISP: Internet Service Provider 

  • Dark Fiber: Fiber cables (internet) 

  • NTIA: National Telecommunications and Information Administration

  • BDO: Broadband Development Office (Housed in Texas Comptroller's Office)

  • CTC: Austin Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission

In a tech hub like Austin, it may be hard to believe that the city needs broadband expansion. However, areas of the city have shoddy connection or completely lack internet access. Rising costs and aging infrastructure have solidified the digital divide. 

In 2021, a light at the end of the tunnel began to show as the federal government passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The trillions of dollars in funding included money specifically for broadband expansion. 

The funding, slowed by planning and mapping processes at the federal and state level, has begun to be released for communities to use to achieve better connectivity. The city of Austin has started the process, with the Community Technology and Communications Commission (CTC). 

At their January 11th meeting, the CTC requested that the city council form a task force to identify, study, prioritize and propose projects to provide to the NTIA and BDO as part of the city’s strategic plan. The CTC recommended that members of TARA, CTC, Austin Public Library, CTM office, Innovation Office, Public Safety, Austin Transportation Department, Austin Energy, CapMetro and other suitable departments.

Additionally, the CTC recommended the adoption of appropriate standards to prepare for broadband infrastructure and the city should conduct a thorough evaluation of available solutions in partnership with relevant organizations and other government entities. 

As we prepare to expand broadband, the city should consider the available resources and what other municipalities are seeing success with.  Texas is not the only state that struggles with broadband connectivity. In other states, like New York, creative solutions have been utilized to deliver broadband to all homes and businesses. Utility companies build out fiber networks and then lease the cables to ISPs, who then “light” up the fiber cables to provide broadband access 

Obviously this is more complicated than just flipping a switch, but utilizing dark fiber that has already been laid, eliminates the costly need to dig and lay new hardware. 

Pilot, an NYC based startup, realized hundreds of miles of dark fiber optic cables existed around the city. Pilot then lit up the fiber to provide internet to other startup businesses (Rogers). 

In Lincoln Nebraska, Lincoln Public Schools paid almost $500,000 to connect to broadband via dark fiber connection. Allo, a Lincoln based communications company, has an extensive network of dark fiber that would be easier and cheaper for the district to connect to than their previous solution. The district has previously received internet through a network of above and underground cables. Allo’s solution is completely underground, utilizes existing fiber cables and offers a fixed rate to connect to buildings regardless of distance (Hammack) 

In Idaho Falls Idaho, the city planned for expansion of businesses popping up around the electric utilities substation in the early 2000s. The city laid dark fiber in lines around the substations. In 2019, when the city began discussing a publicly owned broadband network, half of the work was already done for them because they had a pre-existing fiber network built out (Clark). 

Texas has miles of dark fiber across the state, laid by public and private entities, that is not being utilized. Starting by identifying where dark fiber is and using other forms of wireless broadband to bridge gaps, could save the city and state millions of dollars which can then be utilized to address other issues related to broadband. Working with TXDOT to identify fiber cables and align construction will speed up any construction and lower costs. 

Still, wireless technologies will be essential for last mile connectivity. There are many households that do not have access to computers or tablets, and the federal funding could be used to put devices in the hands of the people that need them. 

Works Cited 

Clark, Bryan. “Idaho Falls, Idaho, Has History of Public-Sector Innovation.” GovTech, The Idaho Statesman , 6 July 2022, https://www.govtech.com/network/idaho-falls-idaho-has-history-of-public-sector-innovation. 

Hammack, Zach. “Lincoln, Neb., Public Schools Look to Connect to Fiber Network.” GovTech, Lincoln Journal Star, 29 Sept. 2022, https://www.govtech.com/network/lincoln-neb-public-schools-look-to-connect-to-fiber-network. 

Rogers, Kaleigh. “This High School Dropout Is Lighting up NYC's Dark Fiber.” VICE, VICE, 13 Oct. 2017, https://www.vice.com/en/article/zm3aw3/this-high-school-dropout-is-lighting-up-nycs-dark-fiber.


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