Section 16.7 - PreferencesThe office may give preference to applications and make awards decisions based upon the following factors:
(1) cost effectiveness and overall impact;(3) the latest state or federal broadband data;(4) the number of households or businesses that will be served due to the reimbursement being requested;(5) involvement of broadband networks owned, operated by, or affiliated with local governments, non-profits, or cooperatives;(6) completion of the pole replacement and payment of all costs of the pole replacement;(7) investments in fiber-optic infrastructure;(8) affordability of broadband services in a target area;(9) participation in federal programs that provide low-income consumers with subsidies for broadband internet access services;(10) documentation of existing broadband internet service performance;(11) download speeds and upload speeds, including user speed tests resulting from completion of the pole replacement;(12) community involvement in the pole replacement planning process, including feedback from community members, community organizations, and business owners;(13) business practices and workforce information, including the following:(A) the applicant's workforce meets high safety and training standards;(B) the applicant prioritizes the hiring of local workers or workers from historically disadvantaged communities;(C) the applicant ensures that its contractors and subcontractors meet high labor standards; and(D) the applicant has no recent violations of federal and state labor and employment laws; and(14) any additional factors listed in a NOFA published by the office.34 Tex. Admin. Code § 16.7
Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 47, Number 10, March 11, 2022, TexReg 1294, eff. 3/17/2022