Governor Abbott left no uncertainty about the importance of broadband access during this year’s State of the State address. “From medicine to education to business, broadband access is not a luxury—it is an essential tool that must be available for all Texans,” he said. And, the February winter storms further drove home the critical importance of reliable communications and broadband access. The governor designated the expansion of broadband access as an emergency item this session, meaning lawmakers can take immediate action to close the digital divide in Texas. Fortunately, significant progress is already in the works, and the legislature has the ...