Texas Border Business
The Cameron County Commissioners Court approved an agreement with VTX-1 to bridge the digital divide by expanding broadband services throughout Cameron County. The COVID pandemic shed light on the digital divide that exists in Cameron County and the disadvantage that our citizens, students and those seeking medical attention were leftto deal with in our area. This public private partnership with VTX-1 is a positive first step toward the goal of makingaffordable broadband services available to all citizens in Cameron County.
The agreement with VTX-1 provides professional grant writing services to pursue grant opportunities to help fund broadband expansion estimated at well over $100 million dollars. The agreement also provides minimum speeds of100/50 mbs at a $30.00 per month price point for all new and existing customers. Qualifying low income households will have the opportunity to pursue reimbursement through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and receive $30.00 per month to cover the service fee.
Prior to competing for grant funding, VTX-1 has agreed to fund the installation of broadband infrastructure within 120 calendar days to the areas of Bluetown, Lozano, San Pedro & the area south of the causeway in South Padre Island including Isla Blanca Park, which will provide reliable high-speed internet to these areas. Additionally, VTX-1 willexpand wireless services to several areas within Cameron County to provide connectivity with improved download and upload speeds.
VTX-1 will utilize their own funding and pursue grant opportunities to help cover the cost to expand broadband connectivity and will NOT require any financial contribution from Cameron County.
Cameron County Judge Trevino, Jr., stated “Expanding broadband connectivity in our area has been a top priority ofthe Commissioners Court. The pandemic shed light on the lack of broadband connectivity in our area and thedisadvantage this created for our citizens. This partnership with VTX-1 is a positive step toward addressing the digitaldivide that exists in our area and will insure that our citizens have the necessary broadband connectivity they need for education, working remotely and telemedicine.”
