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Of all the things on Gov. Greg Abbott’s list of priorities, the call for broadband internet might be the most popular in the state Legislature. But fixing the problems of accessibility and affordability will be expensive and time-consuming. And it’s not a new problem. The governor has had a task force working on it; they’ve already issued a report. A majority of the members of the Texas House spotlighted the issue in a letter to Abbott last September. And a related telecommunications dispute at the Public Utility Commission is tied up in court, potentially threatening phone ser...

Analysis: Texas tries to make the connections on broadband internet Texas Tribune Tags:  Some of the state’s smallest phone companies depend on the state’s Universal Service Fund — an account filled by a tax on local phone lines — to subsidize the higher costs of getting telephone service to the less populated parts of Texas. Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune Editor's note: If you'd like an email notice whenever we publish Ross Ramsey's column, click here. If you would like to listen to the column, just click on the play button below. (Audio unavailable. Click he...

Internet, phone services in rural Texas threatened as state slashes subsidies for providers Neelam Bohra The Texas Tribune Some rural Texans are facing the threat of losing phone and internet service after the state recently slashed subsidies that help providers offer service in sparsely populated areas. More than a million Texas households are in rural areas where network phone service is more expensive to provide, with fewer customers and longer distances between them. Broadband internet service is not subsidized but is often provided on those same lines. Normally, the state reimburses tel...

Rural phone companies file suit against Texas PUC E-T staff report Nearly 50 rural Texas telephone companies have filed a lawsuit against the Public Utility Commission of Texas, accusing the state regulatory agency of illegally withholding universal service fund (“USF”) revenues crucial to maintaining the statewide telecommunications network in rural areas. The lawsuit contends the PUC’s action was taken in violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act, through illegal rulemakings, and in direct contradiction of existing state law, according to a news release from the Texas Statewide Telepho...

Rural Texas telephone companies sue PUC for illegally withholding revenues VIDEO: Rural Texas telephone companies sue PUC for illegally withholding revenues By Tamlyn Cochran | January 21, 2021 at 4:13 PM CST - Updated January 22 at 1:44 AM AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Almost 50 rural Texas telephone companies have filed a lawsuit against the Public Utility Commission of Texas, accusing the state regulatory agency of illegally withholding universal service fund revenues crucial to maintaining to statewide telecommunications network in rural areas. State of Texas; and allege that without this...