Data Study
Texas Broadband Report Card 2026
Published 2026-03-22 · Pablo Mendoza · Sources: FCC BDC, Ookla, provider reports
Executive Summary
Texas ranks 15th nationally for broadband access according to the latest FCC Broadband Deployment data. Approximately 2.8 million Texans still lack access to reliable high-speed internet (defined as 100/20 Mbps), concentrated in the state's rural western and southern counties. The federal BEAD program has allocated $3.3 billion to Texas, the largest single-state allocation, which is expected to close over 60% of the remaining coverage gap by 2028.
Key Findings
57%
Fiber Access
of TX households can get fiber
285 Mbps
Avg Download Speed
statewide average
285 vs 45 Mbps
Urban vs Rural Gap
metro vs rural avg speed
$3.3B
BEAD Funding
federal broadband investment
3.2 / 1.4
Providers per Household
metro avg / rural avg
Top 10 Texas Metros by Average Speed
| # | Metro Area | Avg Speed | Fiber % | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin-Round Rock | 412 Mbps | 78% | 5.1 |
| 2 | Dallas-Fort Worth | 385 Mbps | 72% | 4.8 |
| 3 | San Antonio-New Braunfels | 356 Mbps | 68% | 4.2 |
| 4 | Houston-The Woodlands | 342 Mbps | 65% | 4.5 |
| 5 | Killeen-Temple | 298 Mbps | 55% | 3.4 |
| 6 | El Paso | 275 Mbps | 48% | 3.1 |
| 7 | McAllen-Edinburgh | 245 Mbps | 42% | 2.8 |
| 8 | Corpus Christi | 232 Mbps | 38% | 2.6 |
| 9 | Lubbock | 218 Mbps | 35% | 2.4 |
| 10 | Amarillo | 195 Mbps | 30% | 2.2 |
Provider Market Share in Texas
The Rural Gap: Worst-Connected TX Counties
Rural West Texas and Big Bend counties consistently rank lowest in broadband availability. Residents in these areas rely primarily on satellite (Starlink, HughesNet) or fixed wireless.
| County | Avg Speed | Fiber % | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hudspeth | 18 Mbps | 0% | 1 |
| Presidio | 22 Mbps | 0% | 1 |
| Terrell | 15 Mbps | 0% | 1 |
| Loving | 12 Mbps | 0% | 1 |
| Culberson | 20 Mbps | 0% | 1 |
| Jeff Davis | 25 Mbps | 2% | 1 |
| Brewster | 28 Mbps | 3% | 2 |
| Real | 30 Mbps | 0% | 1 |
Methodology
This report aggregates data from the FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Q3 2025 filing, Ookla Speedtest Intelligence (Jan-Mar 2026), provider investor filings, and the NTIA BEAD allocation tables. Metro-level averages are population-weighted. Fiber access percentages represent addresses where at least one fiber provider reports availability in the FCC BDC. Rural is defined as counties with population density below 50 persons per square mile.
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Cite This Report
Journalists, researchers, and bloggers are welcome to cite this data with attribution.
Pablo Mendoza. "Texas Broadband Report Card 2026." InternetNearMe.ai, 2026-03-22. https://internetnearme.ai/reports/texas-broadband-2026