August 2, 2023 533 PM
FAR WEST TEXAS — The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) is asking the public to attend a meeting regarding internet accessibility, affordability and usage. The BDO, administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, will accept feedback from this meeting to help develop the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan, which is required to draw down federal funding for connecting Texans to reliable, high-speed internet. The BDO expects to complete the plan this fall.
The BDO will be hosting two meetings in the Upper Rio Grande Region in August. The first meeting will be held on Monday, August 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. Mountain time, at the El Paso Community Foundation Room, 333 N. Oregon Street, El Paso.
The public is encouraged to register for the El Paso public meeting at https://bit.ly/3DmG7MS.
“This is important for all of us in El Paso to have our voices heard,” said Eric Pearson, president/CEO of the El Paso Community Foundation. “The plan will help our region tap into our share of billions of dollars.”
The second meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. Central time, at the Alpine Civic Center, 801 West Holland Avenue, Alpine.
“Presidio and Far West Texas have always been isolated from the rest of the world,” said Arian Velazquez-Ornelas, Presidio city councilwoman and mayor pro-tem. “By providing affordable broadband for education, workforce needs, healthcare access, business growth and family entertainment, we can become a better place to live for all. Our voices can be heard by participating in these meetings and by completing the surveys to have our needs met. ‘Juntos Podemos con Todo!’”
The public is encouraged to register for the Alpine public meeting at https://bit.ly/3rF8bIp.
The BDO is also asking the public to complete the Texas Digital Opportunity Public Survey to help inform the construction of a Digital Opportunity Plan. The survey takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete and can be found at qrco.de/txpublicsurvey.
