Primary Department: Universal Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Sindhu Menon, Executive Director & CIO
Secondary Department: Choose an item.
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Transmittal
Project ID (if applicable):
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable):
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Choose an item.
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Transmittal by Universal Services of the Harris County Broadband Task Force biannual report.
end
Background and Discussion:
On March 3, 2026, the Harris County Broadband Task Force held its inaugural meeting. Members of the Task Force listed their broadband priorities and elected the Task Force’s first Vice-Chair. A presentation on the state of connectivity and current County Broadband initiatives was delivered, and included:
92% of Harris County Households have broadband internet subscriptions. Thus, over 140,000 households remain without broadband internet subscriptions.
In 2025, 100,000 residents connected to Harris County’s free Public Wi-Fi network across 83 locations managed by Universal Services and the Public Libraries.
During January and February 2026, the Universal Services Community Engagement team conducted 72 digital skills classes attended by 700 residents.
Next steps include reviewing the Harris County Broadband Roadmap to guide strategic priorities and recommendations, and considering the establishment of committees to support targeted areas of work.
Expected Impact:
The biannual report provides an overview of the Harris County Broadband Task Force’s inaugural meeting and outlines its next steps.
Alternative Options:
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: H: Improve the condition and resilience of County transportation, flood control, and other infrastructure.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): H5: Improve broadband reliability and expand wireless access points.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
10/30/25 |
90 |
Request for discussion and possible action regarding the Harris County Broadband Task Force. |
|
1/8/26 |
343 |
Request by the Office of County Administration for an Executive Session for discussion and possible appointment of members to the Harris County Broadband Task Force, for two-year terms ending January 8, 2028. |
|
1/29/26 |
297 |
Request by the Office of County Administration for an Executive Session for discussion and possible appointment of a Public Member to the Harris County Broadband Task Force, representing non-profits addressing the digital divide, for a term ending January 29, 2028. |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
|
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 4/16/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Ryan Salmon, Broadband Planning Analyst, Universal Services
Attachments (if applicable): Harris County Broadband Task Force Biannual Report.pdf