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Texas Digital Opportunity Plan
The Texas Digital Opportunity Plan shares a vision for digital opportunity in Texas in which every Texan has access to:
- High-quality, affordable high-speed internet service
- High-quality, affordable internet-enabled devices
- Digital skills training
- Cybersecurity protection
INTRODUCTION
More and more each day, our lives depend on using the internet. Once a luxury, the internet has now become a necessity for access to health, education, employment, and many services.
Yet not all Texas residents experience the same kind of digital opportunity. Some Texans thrive in the digital world, while others struggle just to find an internet connection.
In 2023, the Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) brought together people and communities from across the state to ask about the barriers and challenges that Texans face when they try to get online and use the internet. They also asked about who is already working to support the digital needs of Texas communities, and how they’re doing it.
Based on what the BDO heard from you, they wrote the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan or TDOP, which shares a vision for digital opportunity in Texas in which every Texan has access to:
- high-quality, affordable high-speed internet service;
- high-quality, affordable internet-enabled devices;
- digital skills training; and
- cybersecurity protection.
Key Terms
Broadband
Broadband is always-on, high-speed internet service. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) – the agency that oversees many policies and regulations that have to do with the internet – defines high-speed internet as service delivering at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads. Proposed new definitions of “broadband service” from the FCC go further: 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. For the purposes of this plan and its metrics on internet adoption, we are using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey definition of high-speed internet as service provided via fiberoptic, cable, and DSL systems.
Affordability
Access to affordable, high-quality internet means that the cost of service is not out of reach for households and businesses, and that Texans do not have to choose between internet service and other necessities. To access the internet, Texans should also have access to devices that meet their needs, such as computers, tablets, or assistive devices.
Digital Literacy and Skills
“Digital literacy” or “digital skills” refer to the knowledge required to use the latest technology. Digital skills help people find and understand information, create content, and talk to others online. Digital skills can also help people find new jobs and career pathways.
Access to Devices
Access to devices and technical support means having access to computers, tablets and other technologies that connect to the internet and getting help with those devices from tools or people.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is knowing how to protect yourself online. This includes privacy and protection from scams, harassment and other online risks.
Internet Adoption
Internet adoption refers to full access to and use of the internet for everyday life needs and goals. Levels of adoption in a community are often measured by looking at the number of households with subscriptions to high-speed internet service at home, as well as survey data describing what people use the internet for in their everyday lives.
VISION AND PURPOSE OF DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY
The Texas Digital Opportunity Plan sets the BDO’s vision and goals for digital opportunity in the state, assesses the current state of access and barriers to digital opportunity, outlines how the BDO will collaborate with stakeholders to address challenges and describes the strategies and actions the BDO will take to realize its vision and goals.
Texas’ vision for digital opportunity:
Improve quality of life and promote economic growth by enabling fast, reliable and affordable broadband connectivity for all residents and businesses of Texas, promoting universal broadband adoption and providing access to digital skills development.
Business & Telecom
The Texas telecom industry and business community will grow stronger as more Texans adopt internet services and gain digital skills for the future.
Education
Texans will have access to a higher quality education no matter where they live, with the opportunity for educational advancement in any stage of life, through online learning opportunities.
Accessibility
Texans will have greater access to the resources and tools they need (i.e. accessing and submitting tax documents, using telehealth services, or searching for jobs), ensuring effective use of public resources and safer and more resilient communities – especially during extreme weather events.
Health
Widespread broadband adoption will result in improved personal and community health across Texas. The FCC highlights “increasing evidence demonstrating a strong relationship between broadband access, Internet adoption, and health outcomes” in recent reports.
Civic & Social Engagement
Texans will be more connected to one another, their communities and their government with improved tools to participate in civic processes.
Workforce Development
The Texas economy will grow stronger and more resilient through a more skilled workforce from farms to factories, offices to community anchor institutions, with talent staying and growing in communities to support economic development.
GOALS, TARGETS, AND TASKS
The Texas Digital Opportunity Plan explores the current state of digital opportunity across Texas. The data shows that different places and communities have unique needs in terms of access to internet, devices and digital skills. Therefore, the plan calls for approaches designed to meet the particular needs of each community.
The BDO made five goals to tackle these challenges. The goals are based on data that shows where we are today (providing a starting point or “baseline”). The plan explains strategies, or ways to make these goals happen.
Each goal focuses on a problem Texans have with digital opportunity. The BDO uses something called a "key performance indicator" or "KPI" to show how digital opportunity will get better over time. A KPI is a task that the BDO will do to meet the goals of the plan.
Goal
Expand adoption of reliable, affordable broadband internet service at home for all Texans, including individuals belonging to covered populations.
Task
Increase the percentage of Texans with reliable broadband available in their homes from 68% to 80% by 2030.
Click on the cards below to learn more about the BDO’s five goals.
Goal 1
Expand adoption of reliable, affordable broadband internet service at home for all Texans, including individuals belonging to covered populations.
Goal 2
All Texans, including those belonging to covered population groups, have access to affordable computers and other internet-enabled devices in the home, with corresponding technical support services.
Goal 3
All Texans, including those belonging to covered population groups, have a broad foundation of digital literacy skills and access to a continuum of digital skills development programs.
Goal 4
All Texans, including those belonging to covered population groups, feel safe online and are familiar with cybersecurity and online privacy measures
Goal 5
Improve access to online public resources and services for all Texans, including those belonging to covered population groups.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
To develop the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan, the BDO worked with local groups and engaged residents across the state, reflecting Texas’ diversity. Thousands of Texans – including individuals from all walks of life and the diverse organizations that serve them – shared their experiences and informed this plan.
Read about the stakeholders who took part in this plan or scroll on to learn more about the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan.
Covered Populations
The plan is designed to reach Texans who historically have less digital opportunity – it refers to these groups as “covered populations”. Covered populations are specified in the Digital Equity Act of 2021 and are defined below:
• Persons who are 60 years of age or older
• Incarcerated individuals: Other than individuals who are incarcerated in a Federal correction facility.
• Individuals with disabilities
• Individuals with a language barrier, including those who are English learners or have low literacy levels.
• Individuals in households with incomes below 150% of the poverty line
• Members of a racial or ethnic minority group
• Individuals residing in rural areas
• Veterans
Outcome Area Task Forces
The BDO created groups of experts and informed citizens to work on the six areas the state wants to improve.
Regions of the State of Texas
As Texans, we are proud of our diversity. The BDO consulted residents and community leaders from all 12 of Texas’ Economic Regions in the process of developing this plan. Click on your region in maps, charts, or through the “Dive Deeper” button to get a better sense of the digital opportunity issues in your community.
Tribal Engagements
The BDO talked with leaders of tribal nations in Texas to ensure the plan fits well with what tribal communities need and the plans they already have in place to address digital opportunity on tribal lands.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
The BDO will focus on four key strategies to address the challenges and needs outlined in this plan, and to achieve its goals and overall mission.
Browse the images to read about the strategies that will ensure the success of the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan.
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Partner with and fund statewide organizations
The BDO will work with different state agencies and partners to increase digital opportunity. The BDO will work with groups like the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and Texas State Libraries and Archives Commission (TSLAC). They will help agencies do more with funds they may receive from the state’s new Capacity Building Grant.
Maintain a living Digital Opportunity Plan
The BDO sees this plan as a guide that will change over time as the Office continues to learn from residents about their digital opportunity experiences. This ongoing community input will help the BDO make continued improvements to the plan. As the plan is implemented, the BDO will measure progress towards its goals and improve programs that create digital opportunity.
Fund local partners
Broadband adoption, digital literacy, device access and many other aspects of digital opportunity need local solutions. Trust, safety, and confidence are very important to this process, therefore leaders and local partner organizations will be from the communities they serve.
Promote Internet Adoption
The BDO recognizes that building the physical infrastructure to connect Texans to high-speed internet is only one component of expanding broadband adoption – others include device distribution and skills training. Therefore, the BDO will promote activities to support Texans in signing up for and using the internet as it is made available across the state – advancing multiple statewide priorities and benefitting Texans and internet service providers through an expanded customer base. The BDO will invest in additional programs that provide the tools and resources people need to engage in civic, educational, health and other online activities.
The BDO will implement the four strategies in collaboration with State agencies, local partners, community members, and others from the Texas digital opportunity ecosystem.
CONCLUSION
The Texas Digital Opportunity Plan offers strategies to help with digital needs across the state, helping all Texans have access to the same tools and information needed to thrive in today's society.
The plan is a living document.
We welcome your comments and feedback here and your continued participation in the expansion of digital opportunity in Texas through public events or other forums.
Click to dive deeper into the state of digital opportunity in Texas.