JOHNSON CITY, Texas — Steve Sanchez lives in Johnson City - the county seat of Blanco County - and says the struggle to get connected to the internet is real.
"I didn't have internet for 10 years out here," Sanchez said. "No one could come out here and do it, even our local internet provider couldn't provide it. And Starlink hadn't even been out here yet. I got Starlink a year ago."
It's a story David McCullough, who owns HC Wireless - an internet access company in the Hill Country - sees too often.
"In the entire county currently today, 30% of those homes in Blanco County can get internet, but 70% of the homes just cannot get internet today," McCullough said.
Now, the federal government is giving Texas the green light to request funding and begin the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program to help close the "digital divide."
Texas will receive more than $3 billion to deploy or upgrade internet networks to make sure everyone has access to it.
"Historically, we're moving in the right direction," McCullough said.
McCullough is applauding the steps being taken to keep bridging the digital gaps in rural Texas.
"It really goes down to our global economy. I mean all these people want to work for a living, and they want to get educated and they want their health services, doctors," McCullough said. "So it has been-life changing for our community, and many rural communities around the country."
According to the federal agency, all 56 states and territories have now been approved for the funds.