Gov. Greg Abbott traveled to Harlingen in Cameron County on Thursday to celebrate an announcement by Charter Communications that it is planning to spend $1.3 billion on improving and expanding broadband infrastructure across the state.
Abbott was joined by local leaders such as Harlingen mayor Norma Sepulveda and Texas State Technical College regent Lizzy Putegnat, according to a press release sent to The Dallas Express.
Leaders from Charter Communications joined Abbott as well, including senior vice president of government affairs Adam Falk, vice president of government affairs Todd Baxter, and group vice president Tom Chiang.
While addressing a crowd of business and industry leaders, the governor praised those the state has worked with, stating, “Texas is poised to bring broadband to every corner of the state, but we can’t do that without our industry partners.”
“Today’s $1.3 billion investment in infrastructure and technology from Charter will help bring broadband access to more Texans. With this new investment, Texans who live across the big and beautiful reaches of our great state will have the same internet access that those in big cities do,” said Abbott, per the press release.
“That is a critical tool to keep our economy booming, children learning, and families connected to the best healthcare facilities in the world. I thank Charter for investing in the future of Texas and for all the work they do right here in the Rio Grande Valley,” he added.
Abbott has taken multiple steps to improve broadband connection across the state, including signing HB 5. The bill, which passed during the latest regular state legislative session, is meant to expand broadband to every part of the state.
Many residents across Texas have also expressed their support for improving broadband. Proposition 8, which creates the Broadband Infrastructure Fund to finance high-speed broadband access and other telecommunications projects, was passed by Texas voters in the most recent election, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.