[1st-mile-nm] USDA Invests $23 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural New Mexico

[Richard Lowenberg]

USDA Invests $23 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural New Mexico

New Opportunities for e-Connectivity for more than 2,200 New Mexico 
Households

Press Release No. 0241.20
Contact: USDA Press:  press at oc.usda.gov

https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2020/05/05/usda-invests-23-million-high-speed-broadband-rural-new-mexico

WASHINGTON, May 5, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue 
today announced during a virtual press conference that USDA is investing 
$23 million for three recipients in New Mexico to provide broadband 
service in unserved and underserved rural areas. These investments are 
part of USDA’s round one investments made through the ReConnect Pilot 
Program.

“The need for rural broadband has never been more apparent than it is 
now – as our nation manages the Coronavirus national emergency. Access 
to telehealth services, remote learning for school children, and remote 
business operations all require access to broadband,” said Secretary 
Perdue. “I am so proud of our rural communities who have been working 
day in and day out, just like they always do, producing the food and 
fiber America depends on. We need them more than ever during these 
trying times and expanding access to this critical infrastructure will 
help ensure rural America prospers for years to come.”

ReConnect New Mexico service territory map (link to PR)

USDA is investing $23 million in ReConnect Program funding for three 
recipients in New Mexico to provide broadband service to more than 2,200 
rural New Mexico households across 17 counties.

Pueblo of Acoma will invest a $942,955 grant to help provide fixed 
wireless broadband. Currently, the area completely lacks sufficient 
access to broadband service. Providing broadband will fuel long-term 
economic development and job opportunities in the service area, which 
includes 771 households spread over 22 square miles in Cibola County.

Penasco Valley Telephone Cooperative Inc. will use a $3.1 million grant 
to deploy a fiber broadband network. The service area includes 659 
households spread over 363 square miles in Lincoln, Otero, Chaves, and 
Eddy counties.

E.N.M.R. Telephone Cooperative will use a $19.2 million grant to help 
build a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network serving farms, businesses 
and critical community facilities in rural areas in New Mexico. The 
service area includes 789 households and three critical community 
facilities spread over 13 counties and 4,292 square miles.

(snip)


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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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