Houston’s Johnson Space Center employs 11,000 people managing missions to Mars while contributing $9.28 billion to Texas’s economy. Down the road, the Texas Medical Center—the world’s largest medical complex—employs 106,000 people pioneering treatments that save lives globally. Yet according to recent Census data, Houston has the highest poverty rate among major U.S. cities at 21.2%—more than 500,000 residents living below the poverty line.
The city that explores space and advances medicine can’t afford to connect its own people to the digital infrastructure that same innovation created. With the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program ended in June of 2024, 292,600 Greater Houston households lost their $30 monthly internet subsidy. And affordable internet in Houston became even harder to reach.
Table of Contents
- Houston’s Reality: Innovation Built on Inequality
- What “Affordable Internet” Really Costs in Houston
- June 2024: When Space City Lost Its Lifeline
- The Barriers Beyond Price
- Truly Affordable Internet for Houston
Houston’s Reality: Innovation Built on Inequality
Space City’s reputation rests on groundbreaking achievements. NASA’s presence supports 52,000 total jobs across the region. The Texas Medical Center generates $25 billion in annual economic impact. But prosperity doesn’t reach everyone equally.
Over 500,000 Houstonians live below the federal poverty threshold. According to Census Reporter, Houston’s median household income sits at $62,900 — the second lowest among the top 10 most populous metros. Even more striking: 31.7% of Houston children live in poverty, the highest child poverty rate among major American cities.
Research from HighSpeedInternet.com shows Houston residents pay an average of $72 monthly for internet—$864 annually. That represents 1.4% of the median income. But for families at poverty level, $72 monthly is impossible. Houston’s population is 44% Hispanic, 23% Black, 24% White, and 7% Asian, with communities of color facing disproportionate barriers to digital access. Ironically, Houston builds rovers exploring Mars while one in five residents can’t afford basic internet connectivity.
What “Affordable Internet” Really Costs in Houston
Internet providers advertise competitive rates across Houston. According to Allconnect, Brightspeed starts at $29.99, Xfinity at $40, AT&T at $55, and T-Mobile at $40. Those prices look reasonable until reality hits your first bill.
Installation fees strike first. Professional setup costs $75 to $199.99 across most providers, with the industry standard landing around $100. Failed a credit check? Expect equipment rental deposits between $100 and $250. AT&T customers in Texas face a monthly State Cost Recovery Charge added to every bill. Your first month easily hits $140 to $200 before you’ve browsed a single website.
The costs compound monthly. According to BroadbandNow, equipment rental fees run $10 to $15 per month — $120 to $180 annually just for a modem and router. At Houston’s median wage of roughly $20 hourly, that’s six to nine hours of work each year paying for equipment you could own. Research from Compare Internet reveals the math: renting equipment for two years costs $360, while buying your own modem costs around $150.
Then promotional rates expire. Most providers end promotions after 6 to 24 months. Cox, available throughout Houston, increases monthly rates by $10 to $20 starting in month 25—a 20% to 65% price hike. Data overage fees add another $10 per 50 GB over the 1 TB limit.
That $30 advertised plan? Houston’s $72 monthly average tells the real story.
June 2024: When Space City Lost Its Lifeline
The Affordable Connectivity Program provided struggling families with $30 monthly toward internet bills. In Greater Houston alone, 292,600 households relied on this subsidy, including 224,300 in Harris County. Statewide, 1.7 million Texas households depended on ACP.
According to the FCC, the program ended June 1, 2024. Households received their last full $30 benefit in April, a partial $14 in May, then nothing. New enrollments froze February 7, 2024, cutting off help for families who needed it most.
The financial impact hit hard. A manageable $50 monthly bill (after the $30 subsidy) jumped to $80 — a $360 annual increase per household. Multiply that across 292,600 Greater Houston families: over $105 million in increased costs for the region.
An FCC survey found 47% of ACP households had zero connectivity or relied solely on mobile service before the program. Research from Community Impact showed 77% said they would change plans or drop internet entirely when benefits expired. A January 2025 survey revealed the aftermath: 40% of former participants cut back on food to afford internet, 36% discontinued telehealth, and 64% couldn’t maintain regular contact with family.
Houston’s students suffered particularly. According to the Houston Defender, 150,900 economically disadvantaged students attend Houston ISD. Research from the Kinder Institute found 20% of Houston-area residents lacked resources for children to complete schoolwork during the pandemic. The disparities hit communities of color hardest: 33% of Black families and 25% of Hispanic families lacked technology for remote learning.
Houston trains astronauts for Mars missions. Yet 292,600 households just lost their connection to Earth’s digital resources.
The Barriers Beyond Price
Money isn’t the only obstacle to affordable internet in Houston. Time poverty creates real barriers. Professional installation requires scheduling during business hours, often with two-to-five-day windows. Taking time off at Houston’s $20 median hourly wage means losing $80 to $160 in income for a full-day installation window.
According to Click2Houston, 27 internet service providers operate across Houston, yet 40% of residents stick with one provider because they don’t know other options exist. Choosing the right plan, setting up equipment, and troubleshooting problems requires digital literacy many families don’t have. 43% of Houston ISD teachers reported students lacking reliable digital device access—you can’t get online without a computer or tablet, which cost $100 minimum.
Language creates another wall. Houston’s population is 44% Hispanic, but customer service and application forms typically come only in English.
Houston employs 11,000 NASA engineers and 106,000 medical professionals. The expertise exists to bridge these gaps.
Truly Affordable Internet for Houston
Human-I-T addresses every barrier simultaneously. Unlimited internet through the Franklin T10 Hotspot costs $14.99 monthly—less than what ACP provided—with no contracts, hidden fees, or surprise rate hikes. Refurbished laptops start at $130 from brands like HP, Dell, and Apple, complete with one-year warranties and payment plans for qualifying families.
Free digital literacy training through Cisco tackles the skills gap. 24/7 bilingual tech support eliminates language barriers with real humans answering questions. Free Gold Membership provides income-based access for qualifying households.
Space City has the innovation, infrastructure, and expertise to bridge this divide. Affordable internet in Houston shouldn’t force families to choose between connectivity and groceries.
Get connected with Human-I-T’s $14.99 monthly internet and check your eligibility for free Gold Membership. Houston put humans on the Moon. Now it’s time to connect every Houstonian to the digital future Space City helped create.
