Broadband for America Announces Texas Chapter Members

Members to Focus on Jobs and Small Business Growth

 in The Lone StarState

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Broadband for America (BfA), a coalition of more than 160 member companies and organizations which share the goal of bringing broadband Internet to every home and business in the nation, announces the formation of its Texas Chapter.

Broadband for America’s Texas Chapter will focus on helping The Lone Star State better understand how broadband access to the Internet can be a job generator from the Panhandle to the Valley, and from El Paso to Bryan/College Station.

Raymond Walker of Standard Renewable Energy in Houston said, “Texas is blessed with a tremendously diverse economic base. From agriculture to space exploration, from small business to financial institutions and from traditional to renewable energy we have the capacity to grow in nearly every economic sector. Getting people who have access to broadband to bring it into their homes and businesses will have a huge impact in helping accomplish that growth.”

“Texas has endured the recession better than most states because of the sheer size and diversity of its population.  Broadband access to the Internet will enhance the ability of small business owners and entrepreneurs in places like Waco and Pasadena, and businesses in Dallas and San Antonio who want to reach out to the world – adding good, permanent jobs right here in Texas,” said Darrin Forse of Force Transportation.  “As a small trucking operation, we rely on the benefits of broadband in every aspect of our operations.”

The broadband and information technology sectors created nearly half of all new jobs in 2008 and contribute nearly $1 trillion to the nation’s economy annually. The major network providers have invested $100 billion in the past two years in their networks, so at a time when most industrial centers have been reducing their workforces, the broadband industry has been growing.

In addition to announcing the Texas Members, Broadband for America is launching a new page on its website, which details the benefits of broadband Internet in Texas profiling members of the coalition.

To view Broadband for America’s Texas-specific webpage, click here.

The Broadband for America (BfA) Texas Members are:

Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas

Dallas Flash

Force Transportation

Rural and Mobile Broadband Alliance

Standard Renewable Energy

Texans for Economic Progress

Texas Association of Health Plans

Texas Cable

Texas Industrial Vocational Association (TIVA)

Texas Library Association

Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas

Lovejoy & Associates

Broadband for America (BfA) is a growing coalition of over 160 members ranging from independent consumer advocacy groups, to content and application providers, to the companies which build and maintain the Internet. The complete BfA membership list is available at: http://www.broadbandforamerica.com/about/members

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