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April 28, 2025
BEC stands against legislation that threatens rural Texans
Contributed
Bandera Electric Cooperative (BEC) is taking a stand against proposed legislation that threatens to spike costs for rural Texans and put more power in the hands of Austin and Big Telecom. Texas House Bills 3445 and 3448 (HB 3445 & HB3 448) propose changes to how telecommunications providers access electric cooperative poles—changes that could lead to significant cost increases for co-ops like BEC, ultimately impacting members and their pocketbooks.
If passed, these bills would allow major telecommunications corporations to use cooperative-owned poles at little cost while shifting the financial burden of pole maintenance and upgrades onto co-ops and their members. This unfair advantage for large telecommunications companies could result in higher electric rates and fiber internet rates for hardworking rural Texans.
The federal government gave $1.1 billion in federal subsidies to provide service in the areas telecommunication companies serve. This funding is intended to expand broadband access in rural Texas—including areas within BEC’s service territory. Despite this enormous public investment, these organizations have repeatedly chosen not to build out broadband service to BEC’s membership.
Instead, some of these subsidized providers are now supporting legislation that would force electric cooperatives like BEC to subsidize their infrastructure further by giving them low-cost access to our poles — poles built and maintained by our members’ hard-earned dollars.
These companies have had both the resources and the regulatory advantage for years and have failed rural Texans. Now, they want to shift even more costs onto our rural communities while reaping the benefits.
BEC has long allowed other providers, including competitors, to attach to our poles for a rate that is set and maintained by our member-elected board. Yet, despite this access, they have chosen not to bring internet service to our region. Why? Because these companies have deemed our rural communities unprofitable. These bills will make it so our board can no longer make the rules, and instead we will have to comply with a more costly set of regulations by overreaching Austin bureaucrats.
“Rural cooperatives across Texas are already working hard to keep energy affordable and reliable for their members,” BEC CEO Bill Hetherington said. “Allowing major telecommunication providers to access our infrastructure, without contributing to the upkeep, will drastically increase costs for co-ops like BEC—costs that will be passed directly to our members. We will not stay silent while rural Texans are steamrolled by corporate interests.”
BEC urges its members and all rural Texans to take action. Contact the Texas House Subcommittee on Telecommunications & Broadband and express your opposition to HB3445 and HB3448. Your voice is crucial in ensuring that legislation supports, rather than harms, our communities.
For more information on how to get involved, visit www.BanderaElectric.com or call 866-226-3372.
If passed, these bills would allow major telecommunications corporations to use cooperative-owned poles at little cost while shifting the financial burden of pole maintenance and upgrades onto co-ops and their members. This unfair advantage for large telecommunications companies could result in higher electric rates and fiber internet rates for hardworking rural Texans.
The federal government gave $1.1 billion in federal subsidies to provide service in the areas telecommunication companies serve. This funding is intended to expand broadband access in rural Texas—including areas within BEC’s service territory. Despite this enormous public investment, these organizations have repeatedly chosen not to build out broadband service to BEC’s membership.
Instead, some of these subsidized providers are now supporting legislation that would force electric cooperatives like BEC to subsidize their infrastructure further by giving them low-cost access to our poles — poles built and maintained by our members’ hard-earned dollars.
These companies have had both the resources and the regulatory advantage for years and have failed rural Texans. Now, they want to shift even more costs onto our rural communities while reaping the benefits.
BEC has long allowed other providers, including competitors, to attach to our poles for a rate that is set and maintained by our member-elected board. Yet, despite this access, they have chosen not to bring internet service to our region. Why? Because these companies have deemed our rural communities unprofitable. These bills will make it so our board can no longer make the rules, and instead we will have to comply with a more costly set of regulations by overreaching Austin bureaucrats.
“Rural cooperatives across Texas are already working hard to keep energy affordable and reliable for their members,” BEC CEO Bill Hetherington said. “Allowing major telecommunication providers to access our infrastructure, without contributing to the upkeep, will drastically increase costs for co-ops like BEC—costs that will be passed directly to our members. We will not stay silent while rural Texans are steamrolled by corporate interests.”
BEC urges its members and all rural Texans to take action. Contact the Texas House Subcommittee on Telecommunications & Broadband and express your opposition to HB3445 and HB3448. Your voice is crucial in ensuring that legislation supports, rather than harms, our communities.
For more information on how to get involved, visit www.BanderaElectric.com or call 866-226-3372.