Updated
Updated · KRGV · Jul 2
Pharr Expands Municipal Internet to 300 Housing Authority Homes With $700,000 Federal Funding
Updated
Updated · KRGV · Jul 2

Pharr Expands Municipal Internet to 300 Housing Authority Homes With $700,000 Federal Funding

3 articles · Updated · KRGV · Jul 2

Summary

  • About 300 households across three Pharr Housing Authority complexes are being added to Pharr’s municipal internet network under a city expansion announced Tuesday.
  • A $700,000 federal funding investment enabled the rollout, which city leaders said is aimed at keeping students and families connected without adding pressure to household budgets.
  • Pharr Connect offers fiber plans at $25 a month for 500 megabits and $50 for 1 gigabit, while some PSJA ISD families living in those units can receive free fiber through the school district.
  • Residents in the expansion area can also enroll in digital literacy classes, and those who complete the program receive a free laptop.

Insights

As private ISPs sue over a new fiber mandate, is Pharr's public internet model facing a legal dead end?
Is building a public network the best way to bridge the digital divide, or do other states offer a smarter financial model?