Texas Pushback Grows as BEAD Dollars Head to Starlink, Not Fiber

Texas lawmakers are reacting to billions in BEAD broadband funds that appear to be diverted toward Elon Musk’s Starlink instead of faster, future‑proof fiber. The Texas Broadband Deployment Office has paused grants while officials probe potential cronyism and favoritism, sparking bipartisan outrage and warnings that government subsidies are undermining fiber deployment and consumer access. Critics argue the funds benefit wealthy tech interests and risk delaying universal, affordable high‑speed internet as Starlink’s capacity remains limited for nationwide coverage.