Spectrum is expanding rural broadband in East Texas

MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas (KETK) – Improved and faster internet access is heading to people living in rural areas of Titus County soon.

IN FOCUS: Expanding internet access in rural East Texas

This is all part of a plan to bring broadband to rural communities in Texas. A majority of those rural communities are located in East Texas, which is regarded as one of the most underserved regions in the nation when it comes to internet access.

“High-speed internet is really something that everyone should have access to fully enjoy the American dream, our social fabric, commerce, education,” State Sen. Bryan Hughes said.

Wednesday, Spectrum and state leaders laid out an accelerated rural broadband expansion, which will connect an additional 133,000 homes and small businesses to reliable service.

“As far as the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), we’ve signed up, they’re all approved,” said Michael Matson, Charter Communications regional vice president for field operations in Texas.

Spectrum is investing about $400 million, about half of the money is from the feds with work by the state and federal government and private companies.

“This is going to make a lot of people’s lives better and bring a lot of opportunities to East Texas, so we’re excited people are hooking up to it right and left,” said State Rep. Cole Hefner.

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So, no matter where you live, there is always access to high-speed internet.

“It’s going to affect everybody– not just the businesses, but the homeowners and their kids as well with their internet,” Titus County Judge Kent Cooper said.

Spectrum hopes to complete this expansion by 2025, but it could go into 2027.

“There are more and more people coming on, and so if you’re not getting hooked up you’re getting left behind,” Hefner said. “So I think that this is vital to catching East Texas up to the rest of the state.”

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