Brownsville earned the “worst connected city” label in 2014 based on American Community Survey data, with nearly half of all households lacking an Internet connection. Cardenas came on as CIO in 2022 with hands-on fiber deployment experience and helped steer the city’s broadband build-out. When the ranking was refreshed in 2023, Brownsville was no longer on the list.
Cardenas defines success in terms that put connectivity and follow-through first. “Success means measurable improvements in connectivity, digital inclusion and operational efficiency,” he said. “For Brownsville, bridging the digital divide is critical — our fiber network initiatives and smart city projects must translate into better access for residents and businesses. Success also means sustainability: solutions that endure beyond initial funding cycles and continue to deliver value.”
Brownsville’s progress has been anchored by a middle-mile fiber project backed by nearly $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding. The city installed about 100 miles of fiber, a build that began in early 2023 and finished in 2024. City leaders leaned on public-private partnerships and coordination with utilities to speed construction and avoid building a large, specialized team in-house. With that backbone in place, Brownsville has used the fiber network to support a citywide private 5G network for municipal operations and an AI factory, designed to connect smart technologies such as cameras and improve data transmission across the city.
Cardenas emphasized that the infrastructure is only part of the connectivity equation. Brownsville has paired construction with affordability and adoption efforts, including an agreement with Omni Fiber that requires a discounted service package for eligible customers in exchange for using the city’s middle-mile network to extend fiber to premises.
