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February 3, 2026, 11:08 AM EST. Marion County, Texas - fiber-optic internet work is under way in parts of the rural county, funded by federal and state money and run by a partner internet service provider. The effort is part of a broader East Texas push overseen by the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG), which has drafted 65 plans for 13 counties since 2009. County Judge Leward LaFleur calls broadband the electricity of our lifetime. But the region lags behind other parts of Texas after years of planning. ETCOG's David Scott says the group has plans and funding remains a top hurdle as grant criteria shift. Fiber costs run roughly $40,000-$60,000 per mile, deterring some carriers. Nationwide, about 3 million Texas households lack broadband, a statistic cited by the Texas Tribune via U.S. Census data. Upshur County did not participate in the initiative.