Telecommunications plays an important and growing role in our economy, and therefore the rules and regulations governing the industry will literally shape our economic competitiveness for many years to come. In this unique sector of the economy, federal and state laws create a dizzying complexity that makes it one of the most regulated – and taxed – in Texas. In this report, a free-market perspective is brought to the debate as Texas lawmakers look to overhaul the agency that oversees telecommunications regulation in the state – and therefore the regulations themselves.
Local Government
Growing Pains: The Cost and Contribution of Impact Fees in Texas
Texas’s rapidly growing population requires new infrastructure and improvements, which oftentimes come at great expense. To fund these projects, local officials often impose impact fees on new development—but their use comes at a cost. Key points: Texas is the fastest-growing state in the nation. As such, it has robust infrastructure requirements. To help finance capital...
August 12, 2026