Rates for Texas basic residential telephone service, includingthe federal subscriber line charge, range fromabout $13.82 per month in rural areas to $16.72 in urbanareas. But long-run incremental costs for service rangefrom $11.84 per month in the most densely-populatedareas to more than $250 per month in rural areas. Approximately95 percent of all basic residential lines aresubsidized. Sources for the subsidies include added features,business service, long distance and the UniversalService Fund.
Local Government
Texas Gave Cities a Tool for More Housing Affordability. Some Are Throwing It Away.
Housing affordability is one of the Lone Star State’s – and greater Houston’s – most pressing challenges. Recent estimates suggest Texas’ statewide housing shortage exceeds 300,000 homes, applying upward pressure on rents and prices in ways that squeeze working households, young families, and seniors looking to downsize. The gap is especially severe for first-time homebuyers,...
August 7, 2026