A Community in Crisis
When the pandemic hit, Pharr, Texas, was ranked the worst-connected city in America,
with nearly 60% of households lacking reliable internet. Students often sat in
parking lots to access Wi-Fi just to finish homework. The need for a solution was urgent.
Launching TEAMPHARR.NET
In 2021, the city broke ground on TEAMPHARR.NET, a city-owned
fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network powered by Corning’s fiber optic solutions.
The project is now 85% complete, bringing affordable broadband to thousands of homes
and reshaping the city’s digital future.
Key funding sources included:
- Federal support from the American Rescue Plan Act.
- Revenue bonds to expand construction.
-
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which made services even more
affordable for residents.
Building the Network
The project spans nearly 400 miles of fiber optic cable—one of the largest municipal
broadband builds in the region. By 2022, more than 1,000 homes in South Pharr were already online.
Corning’s technology streamlined installation and training, helping Pharr deliver broadband
more quickly to underserved families. “Corning provided the highest quality fiber cable and
invaluable expertise,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez.
Affordable and Future-Ready
Pharr’s network delivers high-speed service at rates far below market averages:
- 500 Mbps for $25/month
- Gigabit service for $50/month
- Two-gigabit service for $80/month
- Free gig-speed service for qualifying student households in partnership with PSJA ISD.
The infrastructure is designed to scale with future demand, meaning residents will only need
to upgrade their equipment to access higher speeds.
A Model for Digital Equity
Broadband is becoming as essential as electricity, and Pharr is proving that local leadership
can bridge the divide. According to Deloitte, a 10% increase in broadband access nationwide
could add 800,000 jobs and $180 billion in economic growth within five years.
Pharr’s transformation shows how municipal networks can improve education, expand economic
opportunity, and empower entire communities.
