Report: 5,766 unserved by internet in Texas County; more money OK’d

Federal officials gave the green light to Missouri’s broadband development plan, paving the way for $1.7 billion in investments across the state.

The large allotment for broadband expansion is courtesy of the federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, from which Missouri received the third-most benefits among the states.

The state plans to use this money to help connect all Missourians to affordable, reliable high-speed internet, according to the department’s website.

At the beginning of this year, Missouri submitted its initial proposal on how to administer the federal funds, according to a January news release.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), housed under the U.S. Department of Commerce, gave its approval for the second “volume” of the state’s expansive BEAD proposal. The office has 365 days from the official approval date of July 24 to submit its specific plan to serve each of the 200,000 locations identified by the plan as in-need of service. Most portions of the Texas County don’t have adequate Internet service, service maps show.

“Our state has already made historic investments in the critical priority of Internet connectivity to support business, agriculture, health care, education, and more,” Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement. “We appreciate the support of our partners at the NTIA and look forward to putting BEAD funds to good use by bringing quality connections to every Missourian within the next five years.”

The second volume included the rules the office will use to distribute funding through BEAD and how the state will hold recipients accountable for the use of those funds. It also allows the state to open the first round of applications in the coming months.

The amendments in the second volume included setting low-cost plans between $30-$70 per month and an outline for different kinds of broadband service making use of BEAD funds.

The office opened a challenge period earlier this year to let local governments, nonprofits and service providers pitch in to steer investments during what BJ Tanksley, director of the Office of Broadband Development, called a “pivotal moment for broadband expansion.”

For the 12,143 locations considered serviceable in Texas County, 4,574 were served, 1,803 were underserved and 5,766 were marked as unserved.

Read more about the program and view the coverage map online at ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development

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