LCRA highlights fiber and radio expansion, parks programming and community grants

A staff member for the Lower Colorado River Authority updated the board on broadband and radio expansion, parks programming and a community grant program that funds local projects.

On communications, the staff member said LCRA “currently own[s] more than 2,700 miles of fiber” and plans to add more, positioning LCRA as a middle-mile provider that could help bring broadband to more than 500,000 people in the region. The authority also described plans to expand its radio system, which the staff member said currently covers more than 50,000 square miles and more than 50 counties and that LCRA is working to expand coverage to a 102-county service territory covering about 128,000 square miles and nearly 7,000,000 people.

On parks and community programs, the staff member said LCRA operates more than 40 parks totaling about 11,000 acres and that the authority has opened summer-camp registration for children ages 5 to 15 at three locations named in the presentation. The staff member also highlighted the Community Development Partnership program, which offers grants of $50,000 for projects such as emergency equipment for first responders and improvements to community facilities. The staff member said LCRA has awarded “more than 2,093 grants totaling more than $53,000,000,” and that combined with more than $240,000,000 in matching funds, the program has invested roughly $294,000,000 in local communities. The staff member said the application portal is open through January 31st.

These comments were presented as program updates; the transcript records no formal board action tied to the broadband, radio, parks or grant-application items during this meeting.