Economic Development: How Pharr You Can Go

This session will walk through the incredible journey of how Pharr, Texas went from the least connected city in the US to the most connected, creating economic opportunity for the community and its residents. The city’s quest to deliver fiber to all its 20,000 households in only 12 months during pandemic supply chain shortages is epic. The municipality of 80,000 people has built a passionate team of public servants and commercial contractors working to connect everyone in town without raising taxes. High-speed affordable internet has been a priority as part of the administration’s commitment to invest in infrastructure and advance educational opportunities for its citizens. This panel will walk through the steps taken, obstacles overcome and economic impact realized when a community has everyone connected. Learn how their unique and creative approach led to $25 per month 500 mbps and $50 per month Gig for their citizens…and, if you’re a student in one of the 5 school districts, your household gets 500 mbps free of charge.