Hernandez: Internet service providers chose not to service south Pharr

Rio Grande Guardian
BY MARIO MUÑOZ AND STEVE TAYLOR
JANUARY 23, 2024

PHARR, Texas – Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez has explained why his city invested heavily in a blazing fast, citywide, fiber-to-the-home broadband.

“Internet companies chose not to service south Pharr, which excluded many families for this critical service,” said Hernandez, during his 2024 State of the City address. The event was held at the Pharr Events Center. 

In his remarks, Hernandez said the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the need for reliable internet service. 

“It went from being just a luxury to an absolute necessity. Without internet service many families lacked the ability to connect to schools, attend to their jobs, seek employment training, or even obtain medical assistance,” Hernandez said.

So to address this need, Hernandez said, the City of Pharr created an internal solution, one that developed broadband internet service as a utility. He said the goal was to provide a service that was affordable, reliable, and accessible to all. 

“We lit a Pharr foundational footprint utilizing fiber optic cable with the goal to connect every family, every household, every business to Pharr Connect, which is powered by our very own TeamPharr.net network.”

Hernandez pointed out that Pharr Connect has been highlighted as an innovative solution at the state and national level. He said it now serves “as a model for the delivery of internet service to impoverished communities nationwide.” Hernandez won applause for this line.

“In fact, the visionary project has garnered such positive attention that we successfully secured more than $4.2 million in free grant funding from the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas for the Pharr Connect Regional Digital Connector program. Talk about leveraging our investment with external funds. Congratulations Team Pharr.”

Today, Pharr Connect is paving the way as a true community outreach platform, the mayor stated.

“Some recent Pharr Connect milestones include monthly double digit growth in subscribers and revenue, with an average 430 new connections per month,” Hernandez said. “And we recently reached the 4,000 customer mark with the ultimate intent of lighting up the entire city of Pharr with high speed affordable and reliable internet connectivity service.”

There was more applause. 

“In 2023 Pharr Connect won a prestigious award for our blazing fast, city wide, broadband service by the Smart Cities Council was recognized Pharr Connect as one of the top 50 projects of its kind in the world, not the state or the Valley, in the world,” said Hernandez, proudly.

He said this was in addition to receiving the Cornerstone Award from Broadband Communities Magazine, a national publication. 

Hernandez also referenced what he called an “historical partnership” with the Kiowa tribe from Hulbert, Oklahoma.

“The City of Pharr recently signed an MOU (memorandum of understanding) to help create a broadband infrastructure for the Kiowa tribe, modeled right after the Pharr Connect infrastructure project,” Hernandez said.

“Lessons learned, best practices and effective strategies – Pharr Connect will serve as the foundation for the tribe as it develops and implements opportunities for schools, residents and small businesses.”

Hernandez added: “I want to say congratulations to our Pharr Connect team for their dedication and commitment to improving the lives of so many residents not only in Pharr, but indeed in other states. Congratulations to you.”