Telecommunications services to Texas communities

 

LCRA operates a highly reliable telecommunications network, and is able to provide middle-mile and backhaul broadband access and radio products and services to its service territory.

Continue reading about LCRA’s telecom services below, or contact us regarding telecommunications offerings that may be available to Texas communities. Current radio customers may report status changes in radios here.

Broadband

In May 2021, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 632, which authorizes LCRA to provide fiber capacity and facilities for the purpose of facilitating broadband service connectivity. This bill contains key points that are critical to our fiber business, allowing LCRA to:

  • provide middle-mile and backhaul fiber access to third parties.
  • build out fiber and related facilities to provide access points to connect potential middle-mile and backhaul customers.
  • provide internet service providers (ISPs) with the necessary infrastructure to connect to consumers.

Just as LCRA contributed to electrifying the Hill Country nearly a century ago, SB 632 and related legislation enable LCRA to contribute to the development of fast, reliable and cost-effective broadband services in our service territory.

Cost-effective and reliable broadband is vital for economic development, healthcare, government services and education in rural Texas communities. LCRA’s high-speed and high-capacity fiber optic network forms the backbone of the LCRA “middle-mile” broadband network. LCRA seeks partnerships with those who can connect to our “middle mile” and deliver reliable, high speed and cost-effective “last-mile” internet service.

LCRA is not and cannot be a local internet service provider, and welcomes inquiries from private ISPs or from public/private partnerships that are interested in collaborating with LCRA to deliver fast, reliable, and cost-effective broadband services in specific regions.

Radio

In 1997, LCRA implemented a trunked radio communications system, which is operated under licenses from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), for use throughout LCRA’s service territory. The LCRA radio system has the capacity to provide clear, reliable communications service to governmental entities, electric utilities, and other public safety entities. LCRA does not serve as a common carrier. With more than a hundred 700 MHz and 900 MHz radio tower sites located strategically across LCRA’s service territory, radio coverage reaches more than 50,000 square miles – from McCulloch, Menard, and Sutton counties to Goliad and Matagorda counties along the Gulf Coast. More than 25,000 mobile radio users rely on the LCRA system for their daily communications.

More than a hundred cities, counties, electric utilities, and other public safety entities use LCRA’s radio system, including the cities of New Braunfels and San Marcos, Brown County, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, Pedernales Electric Cooperative, Capital Metro, and many volunteer fire departments. LCRA delivers highly available mobile communications throughout the region by focusing on high reliability in all weather conditions, strong customer service and strong radio coverage across the region.

Private LTE Wireless Broadband

LCRA continues to invest in and expand our radio capacity, most recently by moving to convert our 900-megahertz spectrum holdings to a wireless broadband channel built for mission-critical activities and secure data transmission. This conversion will enable LCRA to develop a private long-term evolution network capable of providing much higher data throughput across a 68-county service territory to cover mission-critical assets. This expansion of its radio capabilities also will allow LCRA to help our customers optimize their operations and realize the potential of their grid modernization, cybersecurity and digital transformation initiatives.

Loaner radio program

LCRA offers loaner radios to nonprofit organizations. These organizations can take advantage of excellent communication technology when they host a special event within LCRA’s service territory. The loaners are issued on an as-needed first come, first served basis. A telecommunications account manager can explain the details of this program to interested groups.

Additional benefits

  • 24x7x365 monitoring and support.
  • System design, installation and monitoring.
  • Operation and maintenance of all electronics.
  • Replacement of obsolete hardware.
  • Software and firmware updates.
  • Designed to 99.9% calculated reliability.
  • Installation and maintenance of dispatch consoles.
  • Radio procurement, programming and repair.
  • Configuration of radio personalities and talk groups.
  • Radio, light bar and camera installations.
  • Batteries, antennas, microphones and accessories.
  • FCC licenses and frequencies.

Telecom community development

Infrastructure is essential to sustain economic development and growth of Texas communities. As a part of LCRA’s commitment to constituent areas, telecommunications may be available to Texas communities and public sector entities, if qualified.

Contact us for more information: