Texas Broadband Providers Announce the Creation of the Texas Broadband Association

Austin, Texas – Today, a coalition of broadband stakeholders announced the creation of a new association, the Texas Broadband Association, dedicated to bridging the digital divide in Texas via sound policies.  The Texas Broadband Association (TBBA)’s mission is to educate state leadership and the general public on the importance of broadband legislation, deployment and adoption in the State of Texas. 

TBBA’s founding members comprise a diverse mix of communications industry segments and include AT&T, Comcast, Eastex Telephone Cooperative, Amazon, Altice USA, and Windstream.  Each equal founding member shares the common goal of connecting Texans with quality, high speed internet.

“AT&T, along with the other founding members of TBBA, recognize that Texas is at a unique moment to harness public and private resources to close the digital divide,” TBBA Board President Leslie Ward Said.  “TBBA fills a void that has existed for a  cohesive industry voice advocating for sound policies to reach that goal.”

TBBA will focus on educating the public on the general importance of broadband access and adoption, and the funding necessary to achieve those goals.  It will also advocate for policies at the State and Federal level which ensure efficient, workable broadband infrastructure deployment.

Shelly Botkin will head the Association. With decades of experience in public policy both in the Texas Capitol and as a former Commissioner of the Texas Public Utilities Commission, Shelly is uniquely positioned to launch and lead TBBA.  Tina O’Jibway, longtime former staffer for Senator Robert Nichols, will join Shelly as Outside Counsel for TBBA.