JASPER, Texas — In a world of instant connectivity, some Southeast Texans have been left behind. Proposition 8, if passed, could give residents in rural areas, better high speed internet access.
Proposition 8 would set aside $1.5 billion to help create the infrastructure to build on the broadband network without costing taxpayers a dime.
If passed students, remote workers, businesses and even online shoppers without high speed internet access can get connected easier and faster.
"I typically get at least probably 10 to 15 calls a week about when will broadband be implemented? When will we get broadband? And when can we increase or improve the speeds? and that's throughout the whole county," said Jasper County Judge Mark Allen.
Residents in rural areas without sustainable internet access have been hit hardest when remote school work became prominent during and after the COVID pandemic.
"One child may be enjoying high broadband fiber optic. Another child may only have access to a cell phone that his mother and father might have when they're home. And even those speeds degrade. It really affects their ability to learn," Judge Allen said.
Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said post-pandemic federal broadband studies were flawed causing setbacks.
"What would happen is, if you had 800 people in a census track and one of them had broadband connection, then the federal government assumed all 800 people in there had broadband connectivity, which was not the case at all," he said.
Judge Allen believes the ease of quick access and affordability shouldn't depend on where you live.
"Even the people in the most rural areas will have the same opportunities for the broadband speeds that people enjoy having in the larger cities," said Judge Allen. "We need that to stay competitive with the rest of the world."
Proposition 8 would take effect on January 1, 2024. Unless extended by the legislature, the broadband infrastructure fund would expire on September 1, 2035.
Voting begins on November 7, 2023 and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.