Digital access: Community initiatives
Across the region we serve, communities of all sizes are working on projects to help residents gain access to broadband. Their goal is to close the digital divide—the economic and social gap between those who have reliable access to the internet and those who do not.
Two Dallas Fed programs support local efforts in urban and rural areas. We provide guidance to help communities move their projects from planning to completion.
Four regional partnerships serving smaller cities and rural communities get technical assistance to review plans and execute infrastructure projects.
This program supports communities that are working on plans to build infrastructure that will bring broadband to unserved households. In less populated areas, leaders of local efforts may face limitations on technical expertise or challenges with financing.Participating community organizations receive customized guidance to help fund and execute their projects successfully. This may include assistance to develop projects from feasibility studies, partner with an internet service provider (ISP) or identify sources of funding.
To provide this technical support, the Dallas Fed works in partnership with Connect Humanity, a nonprofit that helps communities finance and build internet infrastructure.
Borderplex Connect (El Paso, Texas) is a coalition of public, private and nonprofit partners working to advance digital access in the region surrounding El Paso in West Texas and southern New Mexico. With assistance from BBI, the coalition aims to build on a feasibility study it completed to create a master plan of infrastructure solutions to deploy in partnership with ISPs.
East Texas Council of Governments (Kilgore, Texas) has plans for more than 60 infrastructure projects across the 14 East Texas counties it serves. By working with BBI to bring an initial project to completion, East Texas COG aims to apply the learnings to support other projects in its portfolio and share strategies with neighboring rural regions.
Panhandle Connected (Amarillo, Texas) is working to ensure all students and cities in the Panhandle region have access to affordable, high-speed internet. It has established a consortium of schools and secured $28 million in funding to construct over 500 miles of new fiber infrastructure. Guidance from BBI will help it complete this project.
Permian Connected (Odessa, Texas) is working to bring broadband access to the underserved rural populations in the western and southern parts of Ector County. Through BBI, it plans to use its completed feasibility study to develop a roadmap to inform decision making, identify fundable projects and partner with ISPs to complete the projects.
Note on selection: Following an application process, BBI program participants were selected by members of the initiative’s independent digital access advisory committee. The Dallas Fed does not participate in selection decisions.
Leaders of urban efforts learn about innovative financing tools to fund digital access projects. Participating metros are Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin.
This program supports digital access efforts in our region’s largest urban centers. These metros have developed digital opportunity plans, but public funding for projects is often insufficient.
In major metros, infrastructure is generally in place. Access to broadband is often linked to affordability.
During a series of workshops, local leaders learn how they can use alternative financing tools to fund and sustain community projects that target affordability needs. They gain an understanding of impact investing practices as part of a toolkit to complement other sources of public and private funding.
The academy begins in December 2024 with a session on impact investing. Monthly workshops continue through April 2025.
Representatives from entities working on digital access in our region’s major metros are the primary participants:
Austin: City of Austin
Dallas: Dallas Innovation Alliance
Houston: Harris County
San Antonio: SA Digital Connects
Leveraging our role as a convener, the Dallas Fed is also including investors and regional funders. Participating in the academy will allow them to learn more about impact investing and explore opportunities to collaborate and scale investment in broadband projects in our region.
An advisory committee on digital access provides expertise to inform the Dallas Fed’s community initiatives. Members include local and national leaders who represent business, nonprofits, government, internet service providers and philanthropy. They help ensure our programs align with the needs of local communities and are coordinated with related efforts in the region we serve.
Jonathan Childress
Community Engagement Manager
Microsoft
El Paso, Texas
Diego Deleersnyder
Managing Director
Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program
Brooklyn, New York
Cindy Fisher
Digital Opportunity Program Supervisor
Texas Broadband Development Office
Austin, Texas
Kelty Garbee
Executive Director
Texas Rural Funders
Austin, Texas
Monica Gonzalez
Digital Equity Supervisor
Methodist Healthcare Ministries
San Antonio, Texas
Russell Moore
Digital Equity Supervisor, COO and General Manager
Big Bend Telephone
Alpine, Texas
Jennifer Case Nevarez
Director
Community Learning Network
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Revati Prasad
Vice President of Programs
Benton Institute for Broadband & Society
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Broadband access opens doors to education, jobs and economic opportunity. It’s something every community needs to thrive.
In today’s economy, access to high-speed internet service is a driver of economic growth and mobility. Broadband is now recognized as essential infrastructure for communities everywhere. It helps people connect with school, jobs, business opportunities, health care, financial services and more.
But many people in urban and rural areas struggle with inadequate broadband connectivity. This has created what is known as the digital divide—the economic and social gap between those who have reliable access to the internet and those who do not.
Expanding broadband access helps improve educational and workforce outcomes and economic participation. At the Dallas Fed, we conduct research, share expertise and work with community partners to address this critical need.
The Dallas Fed does not fundraise or provide grants to program participants.