Cameron County selects VTX1 as its private sector broadband partner

Cameron county commissioners have chosen VTX-1 Internet as their main partner to bridge the county’s digital divide. VTX1, based in Raymondville, beat off competition from AT&T, Charter Communications, and SmartCom to win the “County-Wide Broadband Expansion Project” contract.

Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., said the public private partnership with VTX-1 is a positive first
step toward the goal of making affordable broadband services available to every resident in Cameron
County. “Expanding broadband connectivity in our area has been a top priority of the Commissioners
Court,” Treviño said.
“The pandemic shed light on the lack of broadband connectivity in our area and the disadvantage this
created for our citizens. This partnership with VTX-1 is a positive step toward addressing the digital
divide that exists in our area and will ensure that our citizens have the necessary broadband connectivity
they need for education, working remotely and telemedicine.”
Patrick McDonnell, CEO of VTX1, said his company is keen to get to work in Cameron County. “VTX1
Internet is very excited to partner with Cameron County and its forward-thinking leaders on how best to
solve the digital divide locally. Local government working with a local company demonstrates how
groups with common values can come together to great things done,” McDonnell told the Rio Grande
Guardian International News Service. “The real winners are the residents of Cameron County because
they will be getting access to high-speed broadband without having to use any of the counties’ taxpayer
dollars.”
A press release issued by Cameron County states that the agreement with VTX1 provides professional
grant writing services to pursue grant opportunities to help fund broadband expansion estimated at well
over $100 million dollars. The release says the agreement also provides minimum speeds of 100/50 mbs
at a $30.00 per month price point for all new and existing customers. Qualifying low-income households
will have the opportunity to pursue reimbursement through the Affordable Connectivity Program and
receive $30.00 per month to cover the service fee.

“Prior to competing for grant funding, VTX-1 has agreed to fund the installation of reliable, high-speed
broadband infrastructure within 120 calendar days to the areas of Bluetown, Lozano, San Pedro and the
area south of the causeway on South Padre Island including Isla Blanca Park,” the press release states.
“Additionally, VTX-1 will expand wireless services to several areas within Cameron County to provide
connectivity with improved download and upload speeds.”

A VTX1 delegation had to appear before Cameron County commissioners to make their pitch for the
contract. So did the other three internet service providers (ISPs). Jeffrey Patterson, VTX1’s vice president
of sales and business development, led the delegation.

Patterson told the commissioners that VTX-1 will utilize its own funding and pursue grant opportunities
to help cover the cost to expand broadband connectivity and will not require any financial contribution
from Cameron County.

“We’re experts at bridging the digital divide,” Patterson said, when he made his pitch. “VTX1 has been
laying fiber for over 20 years. We’ve been bringing internet for decades to the people focused on the
rural areas. And this is right up our alley as far as what we’re comfortable with and what we’re experts
at doing.”

Patterson said the team VTX1 has assembled for the Cameron County project would put together the
largest possible grant stack available.

“We’re proud to serve the communities with the principles of service, excellence, and value. We’ve got
the experience, the capabilities, the resources, and skilled staff required to provide that turnkey solution
that will provide the fast and reliable internet,” Patterson said.

“So, essentially, we’re more than qualified to handle a project of this scope.”

When the four ISPs made their pitch for the County-Wide Broadband Expansion Project, Cameron
County Commissioner David Garza said:

“Our goal is to make the service available to all the people of Cameron County. We want all of the kids
to be able to access it and be able to do distance learning. We want to make sure that folks that need
telemedicine can get counseled and taken care of at home if they need to be. It’s a critical piece of utility
now. It is not a luxury. As the judge said, it’s a necessity.”