PULSE – How a tower connected two cities

Francisco Garcia, director of Center for Online Learning and Technology works on the microwave antenna on top of the UTB/TSC water tower in the early 2000s.
Photo Courtesy of Francisco Garcia

As The Texas Southmost College and University of Brownsville water tower continues demolition, UTRGV staff shares how the tower was used as a communication platform across the U.S.- Mexico border.

In the early 2000s UTB/TSC Office of Distance Education used the tower to deliver English as a Second Language (ESL) courses to Technológica de Matamoros via videoconferences, according to Francisco Garcia, director of Center for Online Learning and Teaching Technology at UTRGV.

The microwave antenna that provided video conferences across the border to Tecnologica de Mexico on top of the UTB/TSC water tower in the early 2000s.
Photo Courtesy of Francisco Garcia

Garcia said when he heard the news of the UTB/TSC water tower’s demolition it reminded him of this project, because a microwave antenna was needed to conduct the videoconferences.

“This antenna was actually on top of the water tower and directly pointed to Tecnológica de Matamoros,” he said.

The University of Texas Brownsville/Texas Southmost College water tower is shown being demolished Nov. 3 afternoon, located on Ridgley Road in Brownsville.
Eduardo Rodriguez/Pulse

Garcia shared he had to climb to the top of the tower and reset the radio after a storm or strong winds unbalanced the antenna.

The video calls were also used to help professional development for the Asociacion de Maquiladoras de Matamoros Index.

Brownsville Public Utilities Board workers use heat to melt the metal of the UTB/TSC tower to demolish it piece by piece Nov.3 on Ridgley Road in Brownsville. Eduardo Rodriguez/Pulse

Garcia said it was a great memory of his to be inside the tower and resetting radios to provide professional development to Technológica de Matamoros.

The water tower began demolition Oct. 2, and is currently ongoing.

“I know there’s something new and modern going to be built, but then at the same time there are great memories with the tower,” he said.

Alexa Jacqueline Perez, manager for Communications and Marketing at Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB), said BPUB “wants to keep the area where the tower was as a workspace to transfer materials.”