(a) The department shall provide notice on the department’s Internet website of ongoing and planned highway construction projects for which the department will provide voluntary joint trenching opportunities in the state’s right-of-way for broadband providers. A broadband provider may collaborate with the department to deploy broadband conduit or other broadband facilities in those rights-of-way.
(b) The department shall give special consideration to broadband deployment described by Subsection (a) that is likely to improve access to broadband by rural or underserved communities.

(c) To the extent practicable, the department shall assist political subdivisions in taking advantage of voluntary joint trenching opportunities.