internet

Now the largest cable company in the country, with services across 45 states, Charter will rebrand Cox services to the Spectrum name, said Chris Winfrey, CEO and president of the Connecticut-based company, in a media call.

The state office that distributes billions to expand Texas rural broadband is facing allegations of "favoritism" and offering "sweetheart" deals to companies that provide low earth orbit satellite broadband.

Wichita police Sgt. Jeff Swanson is part of the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which has existed since 2000. In 2014, Swanson said, the task force received about 650 cyber tips. Last year it received more than 11,000.

Rural leaders who have worked years to improve broadband access said they were disappointed by the sharp decrease in federal dollars.

Small sellers say the new tax on fees cuts into already thin margins while the comptroller argues state law requires online marketplaces be taxed like any other data processor.

The Trump Administration asked states to find the lowest-cost option in the latest program to build broadband infrastructure in rural areas. That opens the door for more types of technology, which some worry could be less reliable in the long-term.

The Lone Star State reported the second-highest number of complaints and financial losses last year.

Despite the efforts of local governments and others, the move to provide internet access to millions of Texans has been slow and faces new challenges.

Broadband projects to provide faster and more reliable internet for 55,000 underserved and undeserved locations are moving forward.

The Choctaw Nation, College of the Muscogee Nation and the Cherokee Nation are receiving grants for internet connectivity, education access and tribal language preservation.