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Rio Grande Guardian
County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr. and Patrick McDonnell, CEO of the Raymondville-based cooperative, signed a joint agreement Monday, Feb. 5.
The company, founded as the Valley Telephone Cooperative Inc., plans to spend $10 million for the estimated $100 million project. Project leaders will use federal grants for the remainder.
The planning includes Internet speeds of 100/500 MB per second at $30 for new and existing VTX1 customers.
COO Orlando Quintanilla said Cameron County has close to 200 colonias with a combined population of 55,000 people.
Phase 1 of the project will connect those living in Bluetown, Lozano, San Pedro and on Isla Blanca Park, South Padre Island.
“This is a fantastic day,” Quintanilla said of the partnership. “Having this new service is vital for education, for economic development and for health care.”
A longer version of this story originally appeared in the Rio Grande Guardian.