The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Texas’ plan to use more than $1.2 billion in funding for universal high-speed internet access through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
Senator Ted Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, played a role in overseeing the program. According to his office, this oversight helped save taxpayer money and prevented regulations that could have limited internet access for unserved communities.
“My work on the Commerce Committee to hold the BEAD program accountable has spared taxpayers from paying for internet to mansions and vacation islands while still securing over $1 billion in funding for Texas. By refocusing the program on its core mission of digital connection, instead of the Biden administration’s costly and burdensome regulation, we have freed states like Texas to responsibly use this money to expand internet access to rural communities,” said Sen. Cruz.
The revised approach to the BEAD program was shaped during the Trump administration. Changes included reducing regulatory requirements and considering all possible solutions for expanding broadband. The $1.2 billion in BEAD funding is expected to close much of Texas’ connectivity gap by connecting nearly every location identified as unserved or underserved on the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map. The funds are projected to connect about 243,000 homes and businesses across Texas—123,000 with fiber connections, 66,000 with low-earth orbit satellite service, and 54,000 with fixed wireless.
In 2024, Senator Cruz called on NTIA to pause certain activities under the Biden administration’s direction. He argued that new mandates were making it harder for states to reach unserved areas. This request followed statements from NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson acknowledging that $250 million had been spent on hiring staff and contractors without connecting any Americans yet through BEAD.
Senator Cruz also released a report in 2023 claiming that billions of dollars were being wasted on duplicate subsidies and that funds were not reaching rural areas most in need.
As chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Cruz has said he will continue investigating aspects of the BEAD program such as technology preferences, rate regulation policies, workforce requirements, diversity initiatives, climate assessments, and other planning directives.
In recent elections, Ted Cruz maintained his seat by defeating Colin Allred in 2024 with 53.1% of the vote compared to Allred's 44.6%. He previously won against Beto O'Rourke in 2018 with 50.9% of votes and Paul Sadler in 2012 with 56.5%.
