Chris Kirkland, president of outside plant operations for Lit Communities, talks about a 576-strand fiber cable during the BTX Fiber Broadband groundbreaking Tuesday in the Brownsville Public Library Main Branch. The city will be utilizing $19.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for the approved fiber network, allowing for public private partnerships to deploy last mile services. The middle infrastructure will create a minimum broadband capacity of 100 megabits, according to a city news release. Natalie Lapsley/THE RIDER PHOTOSBrownsville Mayor Trey Mendez signs a vault, which will house the cables that will deliver internet to the city, during the BTX Fiber Broadband groundbreaking Tuesday in the Brownsville Public Library Main Branch. On Wednesday March 30, the Brownsville City Commission unanimously approved action to enter public-private partnership negotiations for the design and construction of a citywide fiber network, according to a city news release. The release states the network includes a 93-mile middle mile backbone with design to last mile fiber and will connect 32 anchor institutions including city facilities, Police, Fire, EMS and public parks.Rene Gonzalez, Lit Communities chief strategy officer, signs a vault, which will house cables, during the BTX Fiber Broadband groundbreaking Tuesday in the Brownsville Public Library Main Branch. Gonzalez, a Brownsville native, said broadband can transform communities.City officials and attendees pose for a photo with a vault, which will house cables and hardware, during the BTX Fiber Broadband groundbreaking Tuesday in the Brownsville Public Library Main Branch. Mayor Trey Mendez said the city commission’s goal with the project was “to cross Brownsville’s name off the list of least connected communities.”
