Hernandez: Every other city in the RGV can have high speed Internet as fast as Pharr's
PHARR, Texas - Every other city in the Rio Grande Valley can have high speed internet as fast as that of the City of Pharr. All they need is for their leaders to have the political will to make it happen.
This is the view of Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez. Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for the city\u2019s new high-speed, new fiber optic internet project, Hernandez said the new service, with a speed of one gigabyte, will be ready citywide within the next 12 months. \xa0
\u201cEvery resident in the city of Pharr, every business, will have access to this. It is their choice. We do not impose it on anybody. It will be your choice. But, I can assure you that from a quality perspective, there will be nothing like it in the Rio Grande Valley or even, I challenge, the state,\u201d Hernandez said, at the Pharr Development and Research Center.\xa0
\u201cWe will be the only city, 100 percent, that will have fiber optic cable for all its residents and all businesses, irrespective of income. We are going to make it happen for you.\u201d
In his remarks, Hernandez said there is no reason the entire Rio Grande Valley cannot have high speed internet as fast as Pharr\u2019s will be.\xa0
\u201cIt is our hope that, as we move forward and forge what we need to do, that the other cities would come along. We are more than happy to share data. We are more than happy to partner with the neighboring cities,\u201d Hernandez said.
"This (digital) divide is really worse in the Rio Grande Valley. We (can) all come together and say, you know what, we are a region, let\u2019s take care of our entire region once and for all and put everybody\u2019s banners aside and let\u2019s just do it and make sure everybody wins.\u201d
Hernandez added: \u201cI think we can do it, with the help of the county, legislators, and of course all the city commissions from all the different cities. We can do it. All we have to do is say yes, let\u2019s get it done.\u201d
Interviewed after the ceremony by the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Hernandez said Pharr City Commission is spending $40 million on the project. Asked if he really thought the whole Valley could be \u201cwired\u201d as well as Pharr will be, Hernandez said: \u201cOf course it can.\u201d
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