Texas' top two legislative leaders are calling for an audit of the state's Broadband Development Office after questions surfaced about how billions of dollars in broadband grants are being handed out.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced Tuesday that they want the office audited following allegations raised during a Senate hearing last month that companies offering low-earth orbit satellite service received special treatment in the grant process.
The grants involve more than $5 billion in state and federal funding intended to expand broadband access across Texas.
"It is critical the Office's performance and operations meet the expectations of the Texas Legislature and the people of this state," Patrick and Burrows said in a joint statement.
Lawmakers also heard testimony alleging Gov. Greg Abbott's office pushed for rule changes that would benefit satellite providers. Patrick and Burrows said the audit will give lawmakers the information they need before deciding whether changes are necessary during the next legislative session.
High Plains Pundit reached out to the Broadband Development Office for comment but has not yet received a response.
A Program That Keeps Hitting Roadblocks
The audit request is the latest twist in what has become a long and frustrating process to bring reliable internet service to rural Texas.
Back in 2023, Texas was awarded $3.3 billion through the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program—the largest allocation of any state. Three years later, those projects still haven't broken ground.
The delays haven't been caused by a lack of money. Instead, the program has been slowed by political fights, shifting federal rules, and disagreements over how the funding should be spent.
The BEAD program was created during the Biden administration with one goal: get high-speed internet to communities that have been left behind.
But in 2024, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz asked the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to pause the program while waiting to see what changes would come under the incoming Trump administration.
Not long afterward, then-Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar wrote to Cruz suggesting Texas could return as much as $1 billion in BEAD funding, arguing that state initiatives and private companies could cover much of the need.
Fiber vs. Satellite
One of the biggest debates has centered on what technology should receive the funding.
The BEAD program originally prioritized fiber-optic networks, which many broadband providers argue offer the fastest and most reliable long-term solution.
That changed in 2025 when the NTIA adopted a technology-neutral approach, allowing satellite internet providers—including Elon Musk's Starlink—to compete for the same federal dollars.
Supporters say satellite service can reach remote areas faster and more affordably. Critics worry it could come at the expense of building permanent fiber infrastructure.
Now, lawmakers want to know whether those policy changes influenced how Texas awarded its grants.
"Audit Processes Are Responsible"
Rusty Moore, chief operating officer of Big Bend Telephone Company, said oversight is simply part of managing public money.
"I think audit processes are responsible and should be welcomed," Moore said.
Moore's company did not receive BEAD funding, but he said he wants the Broadband Development Office to succeed despite what he described as a frustrating process.
