LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are calling for an audit of the state\u2019s Broadband Development Office, citing concerns about how the agency has invested as much as $5 billion in state and federal money.<\/p>\n
The push for an audit follows questions raised by a Senate committee last month as lawmakers evaluated the office\u2019s progress and grant programs, which range from pole replacement to expanding high-speed internet access across the state.<\/p>\n
Committee Chairman Charles Schwertner, a Republican from Georgetown, said industry concerns prompted scrutiny of how the office evaluates its contracts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been concerns raised, and I\u2019m bringing it to the public\u2019s and the office\u2019s attention, that I have my eye on y\u2019all regarding the way you are conducting your business,\u201d Schwertner said. \u201cI don\u2019t care who\u2019s messing with your business, but we as an oversight committee are going to oversee it regarding fairness and transparency.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lawmakers suggested the office gave \u201csweetheart deals\u201d to certain companies, offering more money up-front than it normally would. The office\u2019s director said those changes were denied to companies using fiber or cable, with the preferential structure focused specifically on low-earth orbit satellite internet \u2014 a service offered at scale only by Elon Musk\u2019s Starlink.<\/p>\n
During the June 24 hearing, lawmakers questioned when and why the office re-examined its funding structure. The director said the governor\u2019s office asked the agency around May 20, 2026, to look at how its proposed structure compared to other states, saying the office was \u201cout of step\u201d with them.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the governor\u2019s office said it prioritizes getting broadband to rural communities as quickly as possible, and said the Broadband Development Office made the decision to provide earlier access to capital to deliver that service more quickly.<\/p>\n
Burrows and Patrick said an audit will help make the office more open, accountable, and responsible.<\/p>\n
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