Rio Grande Valley Broadband Project

The student team will support the coalition’s ongoing advocacy by analyzing gaps between federal broadband data and community-level realities, helping to create a community-informed broadband access map and set of visuals. The project’s core focus is to make visible the true digital divide in the Rio Grande Valley and empower young people to advocate for equitable digital futures. Students will engage in spatial analysis, qualitative research, and data storytelling, comparing the flawed FCC broadband map with more accurate, localized data, and using case studies or stories from the community to bring attention to broadband injustice. The resulting analysis will feed into public engagement campaigns and policy conversations around broadband infrastructure, affordability, and adoption.