"By introducing competition to video and telecommunications, we are opening the door to new investments, new services and new opportunities," Perry said. "Now rural Texans will be connected to the entire world, and the nerve center of information - the Internet - in ways never experienced before."
In his 2005 State of the State speech, Perry had called for modernization of telecommunications laws so they reflect today's technologies and allow for greater economic opportunity, and last year he signed into law Senate Bill 5. The new law overhauled the telecommunications industry, encouraged competition in the local cable market, and made Texas a national leader in telecommunications innovations such as offering broadband over power lines, as well as cable and voice over internet protocol.
When AT&T completes the rollout by the end of this year, all of AT&T's central offices across Texas will be DSL capable and bring high-speed internet access to the most remote communities of Texas.
"For too long rural Texans have migrated from small communities to big cities and left behind a better quality of life and their roots because opportunities were too limited. With DSL, the possibilities are limitless," Perry said. "Small businesses will save time and money with faster Internet connections, a rancher can look at photos of livestock online, grandparents can keep up with the grandchildren better, and e-mails containing critical information or even video will download in seconds instead of minutes or hours."
The Governor will also visit the rural cities of New Deal, Odessa, Moody, Lindale, Sabine and Flatonia this week, which are among the communities to receive expanded service. A complete list of the 71 communities can be found below:
- Adamsville - Allison
- Anna
- Asherton
- Austin (Bee Creek)
- Austin (Creedmoor)
- Austin (Manor)
- Batesville
- Bayside
- Bellevue
- Benavides
- Big Wells
- Bruni
- Calvert
- Campbellton
- Canadian
- Catarina
- Chilicothe
- Chireno
- Christine
- Deadwood
- El Paso (Clint)
- Encinal
- Falcon Heights
- Flatonia
- Garwood
- Goldsmith
- Gordon
- Grand Falls
- Hearne
- Hermleigh
- Jasper (Rayburn)
- Karnes City (Karnes City Falls)
- Labelle
- Ladonia
- LaPryor
- Lindale (Lindale -Swan)
- Lubbock (New Deal)
- Marion
- Martinez-St. Hedwig
- Matagorda
- Medina Lake
- Midkiff
- Midland (Terminal)
- Nordheim
- Oglesby
- Owentown
- Paris (Paris North)
- Pipe Creek
- Port Bolivar
- Pyote (Pyote North)
- Reagan
- Roby
- Runge
- Sabine Pass
- San Antonio (SNAN - Jarratt)
- San Antonio (SNAN - Palo Alto)
- San Antonio (SNAN - Thelma)
- Skellytown
- Skidmore
- Smithers Lake
- Spurger
- Strawn
- Valley Lodge
- Waco (Moody)
- Waco (So Bosque)
- Warren
- Westbrook
- Westbury
- Wildwood
- Wills Point (Wills Point North)
