Abbott appoints BEC’s Heatherington to council

Governor Greg Abbott recently appointed Bill Hetherington, CEO of Bandera Electric Cooperative (BEC), to the Broadband Development Council.

Created by the 86th Legislature in 2019 and expanded by the 87th Legislature in 2021, the council’s goal is to study and identify ways to provide internet access to underserved areas of Texas.

In addition to Hetherington, Abbott also appointed Akbar Kara of Plano and Hatch Smith Jr. of Llano.

Kara is President and Chief Executive Officer of LEARN: Lonestar Education and Research Network.

Smith is the CEO and Administrator of MidCoast Medical Center-Central in Llano.

The trio’s terms will expire on August 31, 2026.