Decision Follows Delivery of Broadband Roadmap by US Ignite

Following the US Ignite delivery and 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 Harris County Broadband Task Force. Responsible for guiding strategy, coordinating public-private partnerships, and tracking progress, the task force will comprise members appointed by the Court and representing County offices, community organizations, academia, and the private sector.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250701750743/en/

Harris County Broadband Task Force will use US Ignite's Harris County Broadband Roadmap, a county-wide strategic blueprint for expanding Internet access and affordability. The roadmap presents a flexible plan that reflects local stakeholders’ priorities, opinions, and insights.

“The creation of the Harris County Broadband Task Force marks an important step in our efforts to close the digital divide,” said Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia. “The task force members will bring a diverse mix of perspective and commitment needed to expand digital access in Harris County. I’m eager to witness how this task force will turn bold ideas into action.”

The Harris County Broadband Roadmap will be a pivotal tool for the broadband task force because it provides a county-wide strategic blueprint for expanding Internet access and affordability by strengthening broadband infrastructure and increasing coordination efforts across departments, communities, and external partners. The tool also addresses the digital literacy demands in the region. The document presents a flexible plan that reflects local stakeholders' priorities, opinions, and insights.

US Ignite, a national nonprofit with technical expertise in broadband connectivity, technology innovation, and city planning, led the creation of the Harris County Broadband Roadmap. Building on over a decade of experience, US Ignite supported Harris County Universal Services (HCUS) through a tailored process that involved interviews with over 30 county staff representing over 10 departments, county data analysis, workshops, and examination of multiple national models. The results of these efforts, along with valuable input and insight from HCUS shaped the recommended action steps to address the connectivity gaps identified by stakeholders.

“This is not a one-time strategy or static to-do list,” said Domenick Lasorsa, US Ignite Community Innovation Manager. “It is a living, working roadmap designed to spur system-wide improvements in Harris County that lead to more people connected to the Internet.”

Currently, over 171,000 Harris County households lack a broadband connection, underscoring the urgent need for action. The Harris County Broadband Roadmap categorizes its recommendations for expanding access to these households under three pillars: Partnerships, Infrastructure, and Digital Opportunity. Together, these pillars create a system-wide approach to expanding broadband connectivity.

“We look forward to spearheading the development of the Harris County Broadband Task Force and its important work of addressing the unique needs of underserved communities across the county. The solution is not a one size fits all, there are unique needs in each precinct,” said Sindhu Menon, Chief Information Officer and Executive Director of Harris County Universal Services. “With the creation of this task force, which brings together diverse sectors and expertise, a strong first step has been taken in creating sustainable digital opportunities in our communities.”

The executive summary of the Harris County Broadband Roadmap can be downloaded at us-ignite.org/tools/playbooks/harris-county-broadband-roadmap.

US Ignite is committed to helping communities harness technology to improve the quality of life of residents. It can customize its services to fit any community's size, scope, and budget. If your community is looking to complete broadband, smart city, or infrastructure planning, start by reaching out to communities@us-ignite.org.

About Harris County Universal Services: Harris County Universal Services (HCUS) is the solutions partner for Harris County residents, departments, and offices of Harris County, Texas. HCUS designs, implements, and maintains high-quality, innovative, cost-effective products and services for its customers. The department provides comprehensive support through seven business services divisions and three supporting divisions. HCUS delivers a wide array of services ranging from 311 to disaster planning, telecommunications, and much more.

About US Ignite: US Ignite works closely with communities, military bases, startups, and researchers to solve their toughest economic development and technology innovation challenges. Operating like a high-tech startup, our nonprofit organization delivers customized results through stakeholder engagement, technical expertise, and targeted tools. Collaborating with our partners, we provide project outcomes that include breakthrough technologies while creating innovative new jobs, startups, and services. Learn more at us-ignite.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250701750743/en/

Currently, over 171,000 Harris County households lack a broadband connection, underscoring the urgent need for action.