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Small city, big move | Farmersville will be Texas' next multi-gigabit city

"That's a gamechanger for lifestyles here," said city manager Ben White.

FARMERSVILLE, Texas — Farmersville was once the onion capital of Texas. It was also, once, one of the most affluent cities in all of the state during the early 1920's.

It is once again making a name for itself. The city that boasts a population of 4,300 people will soon have access to fiber internet. Farmersville will be Texas' next multi-gigabit city with the help of a public-private partnership with Thrive Broadband.

"That's a gamechanger for lifestyles here," said city manager Ben White.

That means high-speed fiber lines will be connected and available to all residences and businesses within the corporate limits of the city. 

City Manager Ben White tells WFAA the city has been working on this project for the last five years. Securing a $2.9 million bond through the U.S. Economic Development Administration is what helped get the ball rolling. The city of Farmersville has invested roughly $700,000 and Thrive will invest more than $1 million.

"The city is going to own those lines and we're going to be the ones providing the service over those lines," said Zachary Schmidt with Thrive.

Thrive will use the city's existing power poles to put in the fiber lines. The city and Thrive will share in the revenue. There are two gigabite plans for residents and up to ten gigabite plans for businesses and anybody who signs up and wants it. 

Thrive also has networks in Henderson and Van Zandt counties in Texas. Schmidt tells WFAA that prices will be competitive with that of existing providers.

"We may be one of the first at that speed and level for their entire city." said White. "We'll really lay the foundation for future decades of growth here in Farmersville," said Mayor Wiebold.

Mayor Bryon Wiebold is excited for Farmersville fiber. But he's more excited about the industry and growth it will bring. The hope is fiber will be the foundation needed to lure in advanced manufacturing and technology firms.

"It's a necessary building block. We keep that small town Americana feel but also have our foot in the 21st century," said resident Adam White.

Like trash, water, or electrical, fiber will be the newest option residents can sign up for. Engineering for the project is being completed now. 

The fiber lines will be installed in zones. The first zone will center around the 'fiber hut' which has been identified as the city hall building. The first zones to receive fiber will be downtown Farmersville. 

The first Farmersville fiber zones should be up and online by August. The hope is to have fiber fully installed by the end of the year.

"This our new onion," laughed Mayor Wiebold from the former onion capital of Texas.

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