Data Study
Rural Texas Broadband: The Digital Divide in 2026
Published 2026-03-27 · Pablo Mendoza · Sources: FCC BDC Q3 2025, NTIA BEAD, Ookla, M-Lab
For policymakers, researchers, journalists, and broadband advocacy organizations
Executive Summary
Approximately 2.8 million Texans — 9.4% of the state's population — still lack access to broadband at the FCC's current 100/20 Mbps standard, concentrated overwhelmingly in rural western and southern counties. Texas received the largest single-state BEAD allocation at $3.3 billion, targeting 1.2 million unserved locations and 820,000 underserved locations for fiber or fixed wireless deployment.
The average rural Texas household has access to only 1.4 broadband providers (compared to 3.8 in metro areas) and pays 28% more per month for speeds that are 8.6× slower. In the 20 most underserved counties, average download speeds remain below 45 Mbps, and zero fiber infrastructure exists in 16 of them. Starlink has emerged as a critical stopgap, growing 62% year-over-year to an estimated 185,000 rural Texas subscribers.
Key Statistics at a Glance
2.8M
Texans Lacking 100+ Mbps
9.4% of state population
$3.3B
BEAD Allocation
largest single-state award
1.2M
Unserved Locations
below 25/3 Mbps FCC threshold
45 Mbps
Rural Avg Speed
vs 385 Mbps urban average
1.4
Rural Providers/Address
vs 3.8 in metro areas
185K
Starlink Rural Subscribers
Texas estimate, +62% YoY
Top 20 Most Underserved Texas Counties
The following counties have the lowest broadband access in Texas. All 20 are BEAD-eligible for federal broadband infrastructure investment. Combined, they represent over 43,000 residents with limited or no wired broadband options.
| # | County | Pop. | Avg Speed | Fiber % | ISPs | BEAD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hudspeth | 4,886 | 18 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
| 2 | Presidio | 6,131 | 22 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
| 3 | Terrell | 862 | 15 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | Loving | 64 | 12 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
| 5 | Culberson | 2,241 | 20 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
| 6 | Jeff Davis | 2,274 | 25 Mbps | 2% | 1 | Yes |
| 7 | Brewster | 9,546 | 28 Mbps | 3% | 2 | Yes |
| 8 | Real | 3,389 | 30 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
| 9 | Kenedy | 404 | 32 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
| 10 | McMullen | 662 | 33 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
| 11 | Roberts | 885 | 35 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
| 12 | Borden | 631 | 35 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
| 13 | King | 272 | 36 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
| 14 | Motley | 1,200 | 38 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
| 15 | Stonewall | 1,350 | 38 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
| 16 | Throckmorton | 1,500 | 40 Mbps | 2% | 1 | Yes |
| 17 | Sterling | 1,219 | 40 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
| 18 | Irion | 1,599 | 42 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
| 19 | Coke | 3,320 | 42 Mbps | 3% | 2 | Yes |
| 20 | Glasscock | 1,226 | 44 Mbps | 0% | 1 | Yes |
BEAD Funding Allocation for Texas
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program awarded Texas $3.3 billion — the largest allocation of any state. The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) is responsible for distributing funds, with priority given to fiber-to-the-premises projects in unserved areas.
| Category | Locations | % of Funds | Est. Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unserved (< 25/3 Mbps) | 1,200,000 | 65% | $2.15B |
| Underserved (25–100 Mbps) | 820,000 | 25% | $825M |
| Community Anchor Institutions | 4,200 | 5% | $165M |
| Administrative & Planning | — | 5% | $165M |
Source: NTIA BEAD allocation tables, Texas Broadband Development Office initial proposal (Jan 2026).
Rural Solutions: Starlink vs Fixed Wireless
For the 1.2 million Texas locations without wired broadband, two technologies have emerged as viable alternatives. Starlink (LEO satellite) offers the broadest coverage, while fixed wireless (including 5G and CBRS) provides lower latency where towers are available.
| Metric | Starlink (LEO) | Fixed Wireless |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Download Speed | 85–220 Mbps | 50–300 Mbps |
| Avg Upload Speed | 10–25 Mbps | 10–50 Mbps |
| Latency | 25–60 ms | 15–40 ms |
| Monthly Cost | From $50/mo | $50–70/mo |
| Equipment Cost | $175 upfront | $0–199 upfront |
| Data Cap | Unlimited (residential) | Varies (often unlimited) |
| Weather Sensitivity | Moderate (rain/snow) | Low–Moderate |
| Coverage | Anywhere with sky view | Tower-dependent (5–15 mi) |
| FCC BEAD Eligible | No (non-priority) | Yes (if ≥ 100/20) |
FCC Broadband Definition: Impact on Texas
The FCC's broadband speed threshold directly determines which locations are classified as "unserved" and eligible for federal funding. The 2024 update to 100/20 Mbps reclassified an estimated 1.6 million additional Texas locations as underserved. A proposed 2026 increase to 250/50 Mbps would reclassify millions more.
| Year | Download | Upload | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 25 Mbps | 3 Mbps | First meaningful update since 2010 |
| 2024 | 100 Mbps | 20 Mbps | FCC updated January 2024 |
| 2026 (proposed) | 250 Mbps | 50 Mbps | Under consideration |
Recommendations for Policymakers
1. Prioritize fiber-to-the-premises in BEAD deployment
Fiber offers the lowest long-term cost per subscriber and the only technology with a 25+ year useful life. The Texas BDO should require fiber where cost-per-location is below $25,000, using fixed wireless or LEO satellite only for extremely remote locations.
2. Expand the Texas Universal Service Fund (TUSF)
Current TUSF contributions have not kept pace with the shift from landline to broadband. Modernizing the fund structure could generate an additional $150M annually for rural broadband maintenance and operations.
3. Streamline pole attachment and right-of-way permitting
ISPs report 12–18 month delays for pole attachment permits in rural Texas counties. A statewide "dig once" policy and expedited permitting for BEAD-funded projects could accelerate deployment by 6–12 months.
4. Require accurate broadband mapping verification
FCC BDC data still contains overreported coverage in rural areas. Texas should fund an independent challenge process with on-the-ground speed testing in all 254 counties before finalizing BEAD subgrantee selections.
5. Support digital literacy and device access programs
Broadband infrastructure alone is insufficient. An estimated 1.1 million rural Texas households lack the devices or skills to benefit from new broadband connections. Pairing BEAD deployment with the ACP successor program and digital navigator initiatives will maximize adoption.
Sources & Methodology
Underserved county data is sourced from the FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Q3 2025 filing with location-level availability claims validated against Ookla Speedtest Intelligence and M-Lab NDT consumer measurements. Population figures use the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates.
BEAD allocation data reflects the NTIA's initial allocation tables and the Texas Broadband Development Office's initial proposal submitted January 2026. Final subgrantee selections are pending and may differ from projected allocations shown here.
Starlink subscriber estimates are derived from SpaceX's limited public disclosures, Ookla test volume analysis, and third-party tracking by Briskly Research. Actual subscriber counts may vary.
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Cite This Report
Government agencies, university researchers, policy analysts, and journalists are encouraged to cite this data with attribution. No permission required for non-commercial use.
Mendoza, Pablo. "Rural Texas Broadband: The Digital Divide in 2026." InternetNearMe.ai, 2026-03-27. https://internetnearme.ai/reports/rural-texas-broadband-2026APA format: Mendoza, P. (2026, March 27). Rural Texas Broadband: The Digital Divide in 2026. InternetNearMe.ai. https://internetnearme.ai/reports/rural-texas-broadband-2026