Vote ‘YES’ for Broadband Proposition 8 on Nov 7th and sign the petition for good jobs!

On November 7, 2023, Texas will be holding a statewide election to vote on the constitutional amendment Proposition 8 that will create a state Broadband Infrastructure Fund coupled with an infusion of $1.5 billion in state funds to expand broadband access. In the 2023 regular Texas Legislative session, state lawmakers passed HJR 125 to place Proposition 8 on the ballot for approval by voters in November.

While CWA supports additional funding to expand broadband access. The Texas Legislature failed to include fair labor standards with Proposition 8 that would help create more good telecom jobs in our state. Without fair labor standards, telecom companies could use state tax dollars to outsource more good telecom jobs to subcontractors, operate with low safety standards, and pay low wages and benefits.

For this reason, CWA is asking our members in Texas to sign this petition to urge the Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) to apply fair labor standards to the state Broadband Infrastructure Fund and vote 'yes' for Proposition 8 on November 7th. Signing the petition will send a powerful message that working Texans want to expand broadband access in a way that will create more good jobs for our local communities.

Back in June, the Biden-Harris administration announced that Texas would receive $3.3 billion from the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program to expand high-speed internet access. The BEAD program includes labor standards that give preference to telecom companies that use a locally-based and directly employed workforce to create good jobs for our local communities. High road safety standards to protect workers and communities when building out our digital infrastructure. And directs states to consult with unions to ensure the insights and expertise of frontline workers are heard throughout the planning process.

The BDO should adopt similar labor standards for the state Broadband Infrastructure Funds so that we can create more good telecom jobs, keep workers and communities safe, and deploy the highest-quality broadband using both state and federal broadband funds.

Sign the petition and vote 'yes' on Proposition 8 on November 7th!