Harris County Broadband Roadmap
Strategic Vision and Local Leadership
In June 2025, following US Ignite’s presentation of the Harris County Broadband Roadmap: A Platform for Shared Investment and Public Engagement, the Harris County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to establish a Broadband Task Force. This milestone underscores the county’s commitment to closing digital access gaps and strengthening regional infrastructure.
About the Broadband Roadmap
Crafted in partnership between US Ignite and Harris County Universal Services, the roadmap offers a forward-looking, county-wide strategy to improve Internet access, affordability, and digital opportunities.
Key Highlights:
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Scope & Process: Built on insights from more than 30 stakeholder interviews across County departments, libraries, emergency services, and community groups, this roadmap is grounded in local realities.
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Three Strategic Pillars:
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Infrastructure – Expand coverage and optimize County assets.
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Partnerships – Establish public‑private collaborations and engage community anchors.
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Digital Opportunity – Enhance skills, device access, and supportive programs.
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Implementation Priorities: Recommendations include inventorying County fiber and conduits, streamlining permitting, deploying “dig‑once” policies, launching Digital Navigator programs, Community Tech Hubs, and device lending/refurbishment with wraparound supports.
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Sustainability: Funding strategies span public–private partnerships, leveraging County infrastructure, and philanthropic/institutional support, with attention to lasting impact and oversight.
The roadmap accentuates the importance of action noting that while 91% of households have broadband, over 220,000 rely solely on smartphones, and 171,000+ remain without reliable home Internet.
Dive in
Download the executive summary now to review the details. If your community is in need of similar support with a broadband or other infrastructure strategy, please reach out to the US Ignite Communities at [email protected].
