EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso County broke ground on an expanding fiber broadband initiative that will provide high-speed internet to over 1,000 neighborhoods on Saturday, Nov. 1.
The groundbreaking ceremony, in partnership with AT&T, took place at the Family Youth Services Center, with the following community leaders at the event:
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar
El Paso County Judge Ricardo A. Samaniego
County Commissioner Pct. 2 David Stout
County Commissioner Pct. 3 Iliana Holguin
County Commissioner Pct. 4 Sergio Coronado
Kris Yagel, Interim CEO, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank
Carlos Martinez, Director, AT&T External and Legislative Affairs
El Paso County and AT&T Break Ground on Fiber Broadband Expansion and Distribute Laptops to Local Families. Photo courtesy to El Paso County.
El Paso County and AT&T Break Ground on Fiber Broadband Expansion and Distribute Laptops to Local Families. Photo courtesy to El Paso County.
El Paso County and AT&T Break Ground on Fiber Broadband Expansion and Distribute Laptops to Local Families. Photo courtesy to El Paso County.
El Paso County and AT&T Break Ground on Fiber Broadband Expansion and Distribute Laptops to Local Families. Photo courtesy to El Paso County.
El Paso County and AT&T Break Ground on Fiber Broadband Expansion and Distribute Laptops to Local Families. Photo courtesy to El Paso County.
El Paso County and AT&T Break Ground on Fiber Broadband Expansion and Distribute Laptops to Local Families. Photo courtesy to El Paso County.
El Paso County and AT&T Break Ground on Fiber Broadband Expansion and Distribute Laptops to Local Families. Photo courtesy to El Paso County.
El Paso County and AT&T Break Ground on Fiber Broadband Expansion and Distribute Laptops to Local Families. Photo courtesy to El Paso County.
El Paso County and AT&T Break Ground on Fiber Broadband Expansion and Distribute Laptops to Local Families. Photo courtesy to El Paso County.
El Paso County and AT&T Break Ground on Fiber Broadband Expansion and Distribute Laptops to Local Families. Photo courtesy to El Paso County.
El Paso County and AT&T Break Ground on Fiber Broadband Expansion and Distribute Laptops to Local Families. Photo courtesy to El Paso County.
El Paso County and AT&T Break Ground on Fiber Broadband Expansion and Distribute Laptops to Local Families. Photo courtesy to El Paso County.
El Paso County and AT&T Break Ground on Fiber Broadband Expansion and Distribute Laptops to Local Families. Photo courtesy to El Paso County.
El Paso County Commissioners Court allocated funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in 2022 to invest in the broadband infrastructure, according to the news release by the County.
This $6.6 million expansion is a public-private partnership with AT&T, featuring $3.9 million in ARPA funding from the Commissioners Court.
The initiative aims to provide reliable and high-speed internet access to residents and businesses throughout the County, especially in underserved communities. This project would expand to over 1,000 neighborhoods, including 57 colonias.
“This project underscores the County’s ongoing commitment to improving digital access and bridging the digital divide,” read the news release.
In addition to the groundbreaking ceremony, AT&T, with Human-I-T and the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank, donated 125 refurbished laptops.
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