Why fiber beats the alternatives
The underlying technology, explained simply.
Cable vs. Fiber Internet Showdown
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The grant fiber build won't reach every address at once. Here's an honest look at what else is available across Bastrop County right now — cable, 5G home internet, and satellite — with real, qualified price and speed ranges.
Highline's grant-funded build targets more than 10,000 previously unserved homes, and it won't light every street simultaneously — see the timeline. If your address isn't live, these are the real options across Bastrop County today. We've kept every price and speed figure qualified because promos and coverage change constantly and vary street by street; treat these as ranges to check, not quotes.
| Option | Typical speeds | Rough monthly cost | Best for / watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highline fiber | 400M–2G symmetrical | from ~$91/mo (400M) | Best option where available — symmetrical, no caps, low latency. Only where the build has reached. |
| Spectrum cable | 100M–1G down (much lower upload) | ~$30–$50/mo intro (100M–1G), 2G ~$90 | Widely available in Bastrop's towns; watch the post-promo price jump and small upload. |
| AT&T | DSL/fiber where present; fixed wireless elsewhere | Varies widely by address | AT&T fiber is excellent but limited; check the exact address, as rural coverage is patchy. |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet | ~130–415 Mbps (varies) | ~$35–$50/mo (less with a T-Mobile phone plan) | No caps, easy self-setup; speed swings with tower load and signal. Good rural stopgap. |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet | ~300 Mbps up to ~1G where Ultra Wideband reaches | ~$35–$70/mo (less with a Verizon phone plan) | Similar to T-Mobile; coverage and speed depend heavily on local towers. |
| Starlink (satellite) | ~100–400 Mbps, ~25 ms latency | ~$50–$120/mo + hardware (~$349 kit or ~$10/mo rental) | Reaches deep-rural addresses nothing else does; higher latency and weather sensitivity. |
Advertised/typical figures for mid-2026; promotional pricing, taxes, fees and coverage vary by exact address and change often. Verify with each provider before buying. Not affiliated with any provider.
You likely have Spectrum cable and possibly AT&T. Cable will give you a solid download number; just know the upload is a fraction of it (rough on video calls and cloud backup), and the intro price usually jumps after 12 months. It's a reasonable bridge until Highline fiber reaches you — which, in the towns, is often sooner. Track it on the timeline.
This is where the grant build matters most, and where 5G home internet (T-Mobile or Verizon) is the strongest stopgap if you have a decent signal to a nearby tower — it's cheap, uncapped, and self-installed in minutes. Where even that's weak, Starlink reliably reaches addresses nothing terrestrial does; you'll pay more and accept higher latency, but it works almost anywhere with a clear view of the sky.
Every option here is a bridge. When Highline's fiber reaches your street, its symmetrical speed, absence of caps, and low latency (which matters most for gaming and video calls) make it the clear pick for nearly everyone. The point of this page is to keep you connected well in the meantime — not to talk you out of the thing that's coming.
The underlying technology, explained simply.
The build is moving street by street. Check your address, then plan your bridge.
Check your address See the timeline