New Mexico to Receive $74.4 Million in Broadband Grants

WASHINGTON, August 16, 2010- New Mexico entities received a $10.6 million broadband stimulus grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and support for a $63.8 million project from the Rural Utilities Service of the Department of Agriculture.

The NTIA grant will be given to North Central New Mexico Economic Development District to deploy a middle-mile project across three counties and five tribal areas. The project will directly serve 123 community anchor institutions, 19,227 homes and 1,332 businesses. “Middle mile” projects aim to expand the availability of broadband interconnections to companies and organizations that offer service to end-users.

“High-speed Internet access is increasingly important for communities to thrive in the 21st century economy,” said NTIA Deputy Administrator Anna M. Gomez. “This Recovery Act investment will create jobs, support advances in education and healthcare, and help lay the groundwork for sustainable economic growth.”

The RUS project will go to the Kit Carson Electric Cooperateive Fiber to the home project. It will service 29 communities, 20,500 households, 3,600 business, 183 anchor institutions and two Native American Pueblos.

“This project will give rural New Mexico residents access to the broadband they need to attract new businesses, jobs, health care and educational opportunities,” said RUS Administrator Jonathan Adelstein. “It will enable Kit Carson to deploy cutting edge smart grid technology that will help cut electric bills and permit sustainable energy development.

“The Obama Administration understands that bringing broadband to rural New Mexico will give families, businesses and key anchor institutions — such as schools, libraries and first responders — service that is second to none. This project will create immediate jobs building out the network, and the completed system will provide a platform for economic growth Northern New Mexico for years to come.”