The Advanced Television Broadcasting Alliance (ATBA) is looking forward to being a part of the solution through its membership of broadcast television stations to help bring broadband to rural areas of Texas.
Last night in his biennial address to outline priorities for the Legislative Session, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that increasing access to broadband services would be an Emergency Item. Broadband – which the Governor noted is no longer a luxury, but an essential tool – is one of five Emergency Items that will be eligible for the Legislature’s consideration within the first sixty days of the 87th Legislative Session.
“The new television standard ATSC 3.0 has begun its roll out across the nation and this standard brings the ability to deliver ip-based data through a television signal,” says Lee Miller, Executive Director of the Advanced Television Broadcasting Alliance, the trade association for the Low Power Television industry. “Many years of work has gone into this new standard that makes delivery of broadband by broadcast television a reality.”
ATBA member Sinclair Broadcast Group is one of the station groups that is transitioning their stations to the new broadcast standard that is “Internet in the Sky.”
“The beauty of the new broadcast standard (ATSC 3.0) is that it can deliver data to exactly where it is needed most,” stated Louis Libin, VP of Spectrum Strategies. “Sinclair applauds the FCC for allowing the standard and applauds the Governor of Texas for seeing the need and potentially identifying a solution with the least infrastructure required to bring data such as distant learning and emergency services to the edges of our coverage, the rural areas.”
In recognition of this need across the state, Senator Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) and Representative Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) last week filed Senate Bill 506 and House Bill 1446. The two bills, identical versions of one another, aim to expand access to critical broadband services by: forming a state broadband office, creating a comprehensive state broadband plan, identifying which areas of the state have the greatest need, and funding projects to increase access and adoption in those areas.
“Over the last several months our offices have been working with stakeholders, from internet service providers to non-profit organizations, to identify the most efficient and effective path to expand access to broadband in Texas,” said Ashby. “Now, the Governor has given the Legislature the ‘green-light’ to get working on this critical issue, and I look forward to working with leadership to expand access and encourage adoption of broadband service to all hard-working Texans.”
“As we’ve seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, access to the internet is absolutely essential to the citizens of our already thriving state,” said Nichols. “Our massive, diverse economy has already propelled Texas as the top state for business over the last sixteen years and bridging the digital divide with expanded access to broadband in rural areas will increase opportunities for high-quality healthcare, educational attainment, and economic development opportunities.”
Joshua Weiss, Co-founder & CEO of ARK Multicasting, a Texas headquartered company and ATBA member, congratulated the outstanding leadership of State Representative Trent Ashby and Senator Robert Nichols on their concerted effort to better the communications infrastructure across this fine state.
“We are in complete agreement that there are many homes, especially in rural areas, in need of broadband connectivity which has been lacking thus far. It was fortuitous for these public servants to identify that State and Federal funding for broadband connectivity can better serve the people by funneling through the lens of where these services are needed and what other efforts are already afoot to bring about such services.”
“We are in full support of Senate Bill 506 and House Bill 1446 and look forward to working with the State Broadband Office to bring enhanced connectivity to fellow Texans in the fastest and most cost-efficient method possible through ARK’s Broadcast Internet Services.”
Another ATBA member, just last week launched its Wireless ISP service in Crockett, Texas, located in the districts that Ashby and Nichols serve.
“Early indications tell us we’re on the right track with our first customers coming online just days ago,” said Vern Fotheringham, Executive Chairman of Ruralink Broadband Inc. “The residents of Crockett have few choices for Internet service and fewer choices for broadband or, high speed internet. Our mission is to eliminate the broadband gap in rural America starting in East Texas and working our way across the rest of Texas and the country. Our company’s mission is directly in line with Governor Abbott’s priorities to expand broadband Internet access across Texas.”
The Advanced Television Broadcasting Alliance is the non-profit trade organization representing the Low Power Television industry. Membership represents over 2,000+ low power television broadcast stations and translators, full power television broadcasters and allied industry organizations and companies. The goal of the Alliance continues to be the preservation and promotion of the efficient and effective use of all television broadcast spectrum. Visit www.BroadcastingAlliance.org for more information and to join.
