Texas has billions pledged to expand broadband. Spending it is taking a while.

The goal of expanding broadband availability in Texas has been a long time coming. Depending on the day, the finish line either looks closer than ever or so very far away. Recently, Texas won final approval to use billions of federal money to help connect every corner of the sprawling state. The news came about 17 months after the $3.3 billion was first pledged for Texas — part of the bipartisan infrastructure deal signed by President Joe Biden. Yet two days after federal regulators OK’d the state's plan to spend the money, Texas’ own junior U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) suggested in a letter that money might be delayed amid a presidential transition and Republicans taking control of Congress. The most recent back and forth is emblematic of the last several years as Texas has tried to catch up with the nation in deploying reliable high-speed internet. And supporters of the effort worry it may also foreshadow hectic days ahead.