The office may give preference to applications and make awards decisions based upon the following factors:

1. (1) cost effectiveness and overall impact;
2. (2) geographic location;
3. (3) the latest state or federal broadband data;
4. (4) the number of households or businesses that will be served due to the reimbursement being requested;
5. (5) involvement of broadband networks owned, operated by, or affiliated with local governments, non-profits, or cooperatives;
6. (6) completion of the pole replacement and payment of all costs of the pole replacement;
7. (7) investments in fiber-optic infrastructure;
8. (8) affordability of broadband services in a target area;
9. (9) participation in federal programs that provide low-income consumers with subsidies for broadband internet access services;
10. (10) documentation of existing broadband internet service performance;
11. (11) download speeds and upload speeds, including user speed tests resulting from completion of the pole replacement;
12. (12) community involvement in the pole replacement planning process, including feedback from community members, community organizations, and business owners;

13. (13) business practices and workforce information, including the following:

    1. (A) the applicant's workforce meets high safety and training standards;
    2. (B) the applicant prioritizes the hiring of local workers or workers from historically disadvantaged communities;
    3. (C) the applicant ensures that its contractors and subcontractors meet high labor standards; and
    4. (D) the applicant has no recent violations of federal and state labor and employment laws; and
14. (14) any additional factors listed in a NOFA published by the office.

Source Note:The provisions of this §16.7 adopted to be effective March 17, 2022, 47 TexReg 1294.