History of Connectivity in Texas

1. Introduction to the Importance of Connectivity in Texas

This process, replete with dense networks of transportation, trade, travel, and tourism infrastructures, continues to act as an essential backdrop for understanding how people use, move across, access resources and opportunities in, and value any property in Texas today. The rhythms and fluctuations of connectivity also affect environmental changes like flooding and trade wars, economic processes and systems from the New Braudford Law to basing those on so-called "Big Data," to the socio-spatial distribution of disease, such as caused by the latest pathogen. Often in unison, resulting inflows, ebbing outflows, and offshoots of these myriad economic, social, and environmental impacts have reconfigured many Texas communities. Texas has been connected to the broader world basically since it became a part of the greater Euro-American and global transportation network. While moving goods and people along a vast and still expanding network, connectivity to and through Texas increasingly affects the shape and structure of communication, finance, and capital flows, both in Texas and those networked areas around it. Especially since the nineteenth century, the same evolving transportation network has facilitated lifestyle and cultural networks for individuals, all while shaping the global trade networks that affect the average price of rice and sugar around most of the rest of the world.

2. Early Forms of Connectivity in Texas

Texas' first transportation network, comprising a maze of trails and paths as diverse as the state's numerous ecosystems and exploitative possibilities, met the utilitarian needs of pre- and post-Columbian Native American economies. Seaworthy dugout canoes ferrying flint from the Pecos Pueblos to communities indigenous to the Colorado River valley, and Southwest-northeast running pathways linking the Franciscan friars' mission outposts to the Spanish settlements of Mexico, continue to manifest themselves in the marked social, economic, and geographic connectivity between indigenous and Spanish communities within and beyond Texas. These early air routes also fostered political and military access and colonization of the region. Ever since there existed a Texas, people have been connected in both virtual and physical ways across the region we now call Texas and beyond. Networks of trade routes directed native Texan communities' movements in search of food and refuge while enabling the exchange of goods and ideas between communities. Private enterprise built stagecoach and wagon trails, and locally financed or nationally paid state highways and interstate highways. Waters were harnessed and moved through man-made canals and America's roadways. Implicit in the very nature of early Texan connection and communication networks is a recognition of their impact in creating and sustaining the many social, economic, and cultural exchanges that were crucial to both the development of Texas and the shaping of unique local and regional landscapes of connectivity that still exist today.

3. Development of Transportation Networks

In 1925, two auto trails began charting a course through Northeast Texas. The Osage Trail started in Alexander, Illinois, crossed the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau, Missouri and headed south through Paragould, Arkansas to the Red River. From there it continued through Paris, Detroit, and Lindan, heading toward its terminus in Houston. The tourist route also became the main highway, US 67. That same year, a proposal was made to create an international highway from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to the Mexican border of Texas. In addition to other proposals connecting the two border countries through Kansas City, Kansas, and several places in Iowa. The name of the road was Canada Mexico Peace Highway. The portion of the Winnipeg International Highway in Texas paralleled US 67 from Bowie to Mount Pleasant and then avoided directly entering Texarkana. The portion of the Peace Highway became known in 1926 as US 271. Remarkable changes took place in Texas' transportation network between 1836 and 1860. The area comprising present-day Texas was a sea of largely isolated communities at the time of the Republic of Texas. Infrastructure for the new republic was confined to coastal regions and several inland river arteries draining south or southeast. Further, roads and highways were built, highways were converted into hard-surface roads, and railroads were constructed. Roads were improved for freight and passenger movement. The rise of the Texas oil industry in the early 20th century led to a significant improvement between 1920 and 1930. This period was marked by considerable improvement in many of the state's roadways and route markings.

4. Telecommunications and Internet Infrastructure

The birth of the internet is dated to October 29, 1969, when researchers working under a contract to the ARPA—Advanced Research Project Agency—sent the first message to other participants on the ARPAnet. The ARPAnet was based on the development of new technology modules to connect computer sites. The ARPAnet was not a system of transmitting voice or video. In 1971, the University of Texas began its first experiments with two other universities to connect computers. Also, in 1971, two developers in the English Government created the protocols for the first version of the internet known as Internetting. The development of the internet and especially the later reforms in the 1990s have had huge impacts on the telecommunications infrastructure in Texas, arguably more than any other technology. Books have been written about this technology and its development, yet it is important to bear in mind that although the internet is global in its reach, even in its 1969 development in ARPANet, the physical components are and have been grounded in real physical infrastructure. Wireless communication began over a hundred years ago with the early work of Guglielmo Marconi and became commercially available in the United States roughly in the 1920s. Moreover, early radio broadcasting did not have a large physical telecommunications infrastructure. Early radio signals were transmitted from ships in the Gulf of Mexico and Texas, and there initially were limited physical telecommunication plants in Texas. Transmission of television signals also had a minimal physical telecommunications plant that was gradually constructed over the years.

5. Impacts of Connectivity on Texas Economy and Society

From its inception, the information superhighway has been intricately linked with the transformation of daily life not only in the United States, but in places like Texas, where mobility has been synonymous with opportunity. For urban states like Texas, growth and prosperity seem contingent upon connections. A web of interstate highways, air travel, telephone lines, and, paradoxically, relatively inexpensive land and housing costs fueled the migration of populations from the north and east of the country to Texas. From the colonization period till the present day, Texas's destiny has been synonymous with transportation. "Historically, Texans have viewed transportation as a means to immigration and economic development in the state, as well as a common denominator that defines Texas's unique geographic and economic subregions." Texas's economic well-being was the result of the commoditization of transportation—cotton, cattle, mineral resources—foods and goods that demand long-distance transportation. The efficiency and reliability of the transportation system affected the ability of Texans to carry their produce to market and import expensive goods. The integration of electronic toll collection into transportation systems was just another reminder of how a proliferation of physical and virtual networks has transformed places like Austin from regional markets into gateways to a global marketplace. But as visible and effective as this physical manifestation of e-commerce is, one only has to think about the social and political implications of a hyper-mobile society to grasp the depth and impact of connectivity. Connectivity has influenced economic development, and technology has shaped the way people make sense of their own, others', and the state's well-being. Since we have had the ability to participate in the digital economy, we have had another way to participate in the social and economic well-being that has defined the United States in particular, and countries in general.

6. The Best Internet Service for Connectivity

RTA Rural Telecommunications of America Inc. stands out as the best internet service for connectivity. With no contracts, no rate limits, and no gimmicks, RTA offers gigFAST INTERNET®, a service that is symmetrical—providing equal speeds for both uploading and downloading. This feature is particularly advantageous for video conferencing, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted communication.

Available Plans

• MINIgig: At $48 per month, this plan is ideal for smaller households with a few internet-hungry devices. It supports seamless streaming on up to 4 devices at a time and offers speeds up to 0.1 Gigabit per second (100 Mbps).

• SUPERgig: Priced at $88 per month, SUPERgig is perfect for most families and is RTA's most popular speed. It supports seamless streaming on up to 15 devices simultaneously and offers speeds up to 0.3 Gigabit per second (300 Mbps).

- GALACTICgig: For $108 per month, GALACTICgig is designed for families with high internet usage, including teens and gamers. It provides speeds up to 1 Gigabit per second (1000 Mbps) and supports unlimited seamless streaming.

Each plan's speed may vary based on Fiber or Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) availability and the selected plan. For further assistance, customers can visit the gigFAST INTERNET® support page to resolve any queries.