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’s 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.  “Every 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,” Hernandez said, at the Pharr Development and Research Center. “We 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.”In his remarks, Hernandez said there is no reason the entire Rio Grande Valley cannot have high speed internet as fast as Pharr’s will be. “It 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,” 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’s take care of our entire region once and for all and put everybody’s banners aside and let’s just do it and make sure everybody wins.”Hernandez added: “I 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’s get it done.”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 “wired” as well as Pharr will be, Hernandez said: “Of course it can.”Editor's Note: To read the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian website.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.