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DILLEY, TX – Texas Department of Public Safety troopers arrived in riot gear in Dilley on Wednesday as protesters gathered outside the South Texas Family Residential Centre to draw attention to the detention of a five-year-old boy from the Minneapolis area being held at the ICE facility.
Texas Public Radio was on the scene as about 40 DPS troopers arrived at the protest site aboard a Dilley Self-reliant School District bus. Tensions later escalated as confrontations broke out between protesters and law enforcement.
As Texas Department of public safety troopers in riot gear moved toward protesters, tensions escalated near the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley. Protesters formed a line just feet from troopers’ shields as the standoff intensified.
Protesters help one another rinse their eyes after a chemical irritant was deployed outside the Dilley ICE detention facility on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.
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Texas Public Radio
Among those at the protest was San Antonio art teacher Sheila Vasquez,who said the hour-long drive to Dilley was worth it if it meant standing up for children held in immigration detention.
Vasquez stayed up all night before the demonstration crafting a large white bird sculpture she calls a “protector,” a symbol of hope for families inside the detention center.
“I don’t know if the children can see us,” she said,”but I thought maybe if I held it high enou
The Biden Administration Announced $8.3 Billion in Funding for High-Speed Internet Access
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The Biden administration announced on June 26, 2023, a commitment of $8.3 billion in federal funding to expand high-speed internet access across the United States, aiming to reach communities that currently lack reliable broadband service.
What is the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program?
the broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program is a key component of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed into law on November 15, 2021. It provides states with funding to close the digital divide, ensuring that all Americans have access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet.
How Will the Funds Be Distributed?
The $8.3 billion will be allocated to states and territories based on formulas that consider the number of unserved locations - those without internet service or with service that is too slow to meet minimum speed standards. States will then develop plans to distribute the funds to internet service providers through competitive grant programs. The National Telecommunications and Details Administration (NTIA) will oversee the program and ensure funds are used effectively.
- Allocation Formula: Funds are distributed based on the number of unserved locations in each state.
- State Plans: States must submit plans detailing how they will use the funds to expand broadband access.
- Competitive Grants: Internet service providers will compete for grants to build out infrastructure in unserved areas.
What are the Goals of the Program?
The BEAD Program aims to achieve several key goals, including connecting all Americans to high-speed internet, lowering the cost of internet service, and promoting competition among internet service providers. The program prioritizes projects that will deliver speeds of at least 100 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload, meeting the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) definition of broadband.The initiative seeks to address disparities in internet access, particularly in rural, tribal, and low-income communities.
“High-speed internet is essential for everyone in america,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in a statement released on June 26, 2023. ”This funding will help us close the digital divide and create opportunities for all Americans.”
What is the Current State of Broadband Access in the US?
As of January 2023,approximately 21 million Americans,primarily in rural areas,lack access to high-speed internet. According to the FCC’s 2022 Broadband Deployment Report,19 million people live in areas where fixed broadband internet access is unavailable. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need for reliable internet access for remote work, education, and healthcare.
The NTIA’s initial allocation notices, released June 26, 2023, show that California will receive the largest amount of funding at $1.15 billion, followed by Texas at $988 million and Florida at $864 million. These allocations are based on data submitted by states identifying unserved locations. (NTIA Press Release)
