[1st-mile-nm] Benton Inst.: Libraries and Schools Join Hands to Connect New Mexico Pueblos

[Richard Lowenberg]

A forthcoming case study by the ALA examines how tribal libraries and 
schools in north-central New Mexico came together to address their own 
broadband connectivity challenges. As Kimball Sekaquaptewa, now chief 
technology director at Santa Fe Indian School, said, “If the incumbent 
providers weren’t willing to build out in our area, we were willing to 
own and operate our own internet infrastructure.”

Forming two separate consortia, tribal libraries and schools in six 
pueblos were able to aggregate their demand for broadband and build two 
60-mile fiber-optic networks. Applying together through consortia 
applications and pursuing a regional approach yielded greater results 
than operating alone. Over 90 percent of the $4.2 million project was 
funded directly by the largest  E-Rate award in the state of New Mexico 
in 2016 and the first tribal project of its kind since the FCC’s E-Rate 
modernization order in 2014.

(snip)

https://www.benton.org/blog/libraries-and-schools-join-hands-connect-new-mexico-pueblos


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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
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