BROWNSVILLE, TX – Lit Fiber-BTX connected its first customer to high-speed Internet service. The milestone was celebrated at a customer event held at Lit Fiber’s demonstration center in downtown Brownsville, where inaugural user Jay Hicks shared his enthusiasm for the new service.
The event featured an address by Rose Gowen, Acting Mayor and Commissioner General “B,” who stressed the importance of Internet connectivity in today’s world, especially in the healthcare sector.
“Having Internet connectivity is vital for everyone, especially physicians and patients who rely on telemedicine,” said Dr. Gowen. “Not everyone can make it to the doctor’s office – they may not have a car, they may need to care for a sick person at home, or they simply need results that don’t warrant an actual visit. Lit Fiber is providing options that allow our healthcare teams across the city to reach everyone who needs care.”
Gowen also highlighted the city’s dedication to bridging the digital divide, especially for underserved communities. “The city’s work has always been focused on helping the underserved,” he said. “If we can connect the underprivileged, we will have connected everyone who needs to be connected.”
Construction of the Lit Fiber network began in the spring of 2023 and has progressed rapidly, with a focus on minimizing disruption to the community. Brownsville residents can expect to begin accessing Lit Fiber’s high-speed Internet services this August.
City Manager Helen Ramirez, AICP, emphasized the overall importance of the project and described Brownsville as a model for the nation in bringing Lit Fiber – a public-private partnership – to a city of nearly 200,000 people.
A standout feature of Lit Fiber is its affordable promotional plan tailored to school-age children, priced at just $14.99. Richard Hogue of Lit Fiber-BTX also spoke at the event and praised the speed and reliability of the fiber optic and Internet service. He noted that Lit Fiber’s consistent performance sets it apart from other providers in the market.
Hicks, a semi-professional streamer and content creator, expressed enthusiasm for the service’s performance. “You definitely need that speed when you’re streaming or gaming, because a drop in connection is going to cause you a lot of problems,” Hicks said. “Watching the speed test go from zero to a gig in half a second blew my mind. If you’re a gamer or use any kind of social networking, I say go to Lit Fiber because you won’t be disappointed.”
