Texas Broadband Architect Hegar Slated to Become Texas A&M Chancellor

WASHINGTON, March 12, 2025 – Texas may soon see a shift in leadership in the office managing its $3.3 billion in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment funds.

The Texas A&M University Board of Regents announced Friday it has named Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar as the sole finalist for the university system’s chancellor position. 

Hegar – who has served as the state’s Comptroller since 2014 – an elective office – has been instrumental in shaping Texas’ broadband strategy. Under his leadership, Texas prioritized private-sector expansion and diverse technologies to connect more than two-thirds of the state’s 779,378 BEAD-eligible locations.

Hegar also announced on March 4 that Texas might return up to $1 billion in BEAD funding to the federal government. It is unknown if Hegar's leaving the government will affect the state’s broadband policies going forward.

Joe Kane of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation recently praised Hegar’s efforts to find cost-effective broadband solutions, including low-earth-orbit satellite programs for underserved areas. 

Kane also highlighted Texas’ ability to keep deployment costs significantly lower than other states.

“While Texas has taken matters into its own hands, Comptroller Hegar rightly points out that federal guidance for the $42 billion has hindered more efficient deployment,” Kane said. “Yet despite these challenges, Texas estimates its BEAD deployments will cost between $9,000 and $11,000 per location—far lower than other states like Nevada, which plan to spend tens of thousands per location.”

State law mandates a 21-day comment period before the Board can finalize Hegar’s appointment, meaning Texas could lose its Comptroller by the end of March.