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A recent U. S. Department of Commerce study, based on 2000 census data, indicated that more than 53 million U. S. households subscribe to the Internet and only 10.6 million U. S. households are connected to the Internet via broadband. Broadband is the capability of using communications systems to transmit large quantities of voice, data and video at speeds that are considerably faster than dial-up Internet connections. Cable companies and telephone companies are currently the main providers of this service.
Understanding that broadband access is important to rural Texas, the House Committee on State Affairs has been asked by Speaker Laney to study several aspects of broadband deployment in Texas during the Interim. Chairman Steve Wolens (D) Dallas has listed some of the issues the Committee will review:
* Examine the deployment of advanced telecommunications services throughout Texas and evaluate possible State policies to ensure availability of broadband service to all Texans.
* Study barriers faced by rural and urban communities in obtaining advanced services and explore ways for these communities, the state, and cities to secure the benefits of affordable broadband access to underserved citizens.
* Determine what, if any, broadband access is available to citizens of each rural community of the state and to each inner-city community in the state. Together with the Public Utility Commission, or another agency or university of the state, establish a system for tracking broadband service offerings in rural and inner-city communities on an ongoing basis.
Several questions that will begin the Committee's inquiry into a possible State Broadband Policy include: What is the proper role of the community in achieving a successful broadband strategy? Should the strategy include the participation of local governments, local economic development corporations, councils of governments, school districts, community college district, libraries or other public or private entities?
The committee plans to have hearings on this issue in the near future and is asking for input from legislators to establish a philosophical framework for discussing a state broadband strategy. If you have any comments you wish to be forwarded to the Committee about the use of high-speed Internet service, please write my Capitol office at P. O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768.
State Representative Ron Clark
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768-2910
(903) 893-9426 * (512) 463-0474
(512) 475-3767 (fax)
ron.clark@house.state.tx.us
http://www.grayson.edu/district62/RonClark.html
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