As used in this subchapter and in these rules, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
  (1) Applicant--A person that has submitted an application for an award under this subchapter.
  (2) Application protest period--A period of at least thirty days beginning on the first day after an application is posted under §16.36(d) of this subchapter.
  (3) Broadband development map--The map adopted or created under Government Code, §490I.0105.
  (4) Broadband service--Internet service that delivers transmission speeds capable of providing:
    (A) a download speed of not less than 25 Mbps; or
    (B) an upload speed of not less than three Mbps; and
    (C) network round-trip latency of less than or equal to 100 milliseconds based on the 95th percentile of speed measurements.
  (5) Broadband serviceable location--A business or residential location in this state at which broadband service is, or can be, installed, including a community anchor institution.
  (6) Census block--The smallest geographic area for which the U.S. Bureau of the Census collects and tabulates decennial census data as shown on the most recent on Census Bureau maps.
  (7) Commercial broadband service provider--A broadband service provider engaged in business intended for profit, a telephone cooperative, an electric cooperative, or an electric utility that offers broadband service or middle-mile broadband service for a fare, fee, rate, charge, or other consideration.
  (8) Community anchor institution--An entity such as a school, library, health clinic, health center, hospital or other medical provider, public safety entity, institution of higher education, public housing organization, or community support organization that facilitates greater use of broadband service by vulnerable populations, including, but not limited to, low-income individuals, unemployed individuals, children, the incarcerated, and aged individuals.
  (9) Designated area--A census block or other area as determined under §16.21 of this subchapter.
  (10) Grant funds--Grants, low-interest loans, and other financial incentives awarded to applicants under this subchapter for the purpose of expanding access to and adoption of broadband service.
  (11) Grant recipient--An applicant who has been awarded grant funds under this subchapter.
  (12) Mbps--Megabits per second.
  (13) Middle mile infrastructure--Any broadband infrastructure that does not connect directly to an end-user location, including a community anchor institution. The term includes:
    (A) leased dark fiber, interoffice transport, backhaul, carrier-neutral internet exchange facilities, carrier-neutral submarine cable landing stations, undersea cables, transport connectivity to data centers, special access transport, and other similar services; and
    (B) wired or private wireless broadband infrastructure, including microwave capacity, radio tower access, and other services or infrastructure for a private wireless broadband network, such as towers, fiber, and microwave links.
    (C) The term does not include provision of Internet service to end-use customers on a retail basis.
  (14) Non-commercial broadband service provider--A broadband service provider that is not a commercial broadband service provider.
  (15) Office--The Broadband Development Office created under Government Code, §490I.0102.
  (16) Project area--The area, consisting of one or more broadband serviceable locations, identified by an applicant in which the applicant proposes to deploy broadband service or middle mile infrastructure.
  (17) Public school--A school that offers a course of instruction for students in one or more grades from prekindergarten through grade 12 and is operated by a governmental entity.
  (18) Qualifying broadband service--Broadband service that meets the minimum speed, latency and reliability thresholds prescribed by the office in each applicable notice of funds availability.
  (19) Reliable broadband service--Broadband service that is accessible to a location via:
    (A) fiber-optic technology;
    (B) Cable Modem/ Hybrid fiber-coaxial technology;
    (C) digital subscriber line (DSL) technology; or
    (D) terrestrial fixed wireless technology utilizing entirely licensed spectrum or using a hybrid of licensed and unlicensed spectrum.
  (20) Served location--A broadband serviceable location that has access to reliable broadband service that exceeds the minimum threshold for an underserved location or a location that is subject to an existing federal commitment to deploy qualifying broadband service.
  (21) Underserved location--A broadband serviceable location that has access to reliable broadband service but does not have access to reliable broadband service with the capability of providing:
    (A) a download speed of not less than 100 Mbps;
    (B) an upload speed of not less than 20 Mbps; and
    (C) a network round-trip latency of less than or equal to 100 milliseconds based on the 95th percentile of speed measurements as established under Government Code, §490I.0101.
  (22) Unserved location--A broadband serviceable location that does not have access to reliable broadband service.

Source Note: The provisions of this §16.30 adopted to be effective February 19, 2023, 48 TexReg 685; amended to be effective March 24, 2024, 49 TexReg 1956