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"The office of the governor asked us to look at how our proposed structure compared to other states," said Bryant Clayton, Director of the Texas Broadband Development Office.
Clayton explained to the senate business and commerce committee that the initial framework required adjustments to align with regional standards.
"Generally … we were out of step with other nearby states," Clayton said.
Republican State Senator Charles Schwertner, who chairs the legislative committee, acknowledged the complaints raised by traditional fiber-optic companies regarding the modified selection process during the June hearing.
"I'll just say it bluntly. Favoritism and transparency are real big concerns that have been brought to my office," Schwertner said.
The administration of Governor Greg Abbott defended the decision to utilize low-Earth-orbit satellites, asserting that satellite technology offers a more practical and immediate solution for remote areas compared to expensive underground fiber cables.
"Governor Abbott supports getting high-speed internet to rural Texans as quickly and cost-effectively as possible," said Andrew Mahaleris, Press Secretary for Governor Greg Abbott.
Mahaleris maintained that the geographical challenges of rural Texas justified the selection of SpaceX's network over traditional infrastructure options.
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"Low Earth orbit satellite service is essential for the most remote areas where traditional fiber is too expensive and slow to build," Mahaleris said.
