[1st-mile-nm] Cuba, NM school district buys Starlink internet for students

[Richard Lowenberg]

Rural New Mexico school district buys Starlink internet for students

Associated Press Dec 29, 2021
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/ap/rural-new-mexico-school-district-buys-starlink-internet-for-students/article_38dea62e-146d-5324-bbdc-b7b63acb1ddb.html

A school district in northwestern New Mexico is providing high-speed 
internet to students' families, most of whom are Indigenous, in a $1.2 
million deal that leapfrogs piecemeal efforts by state and tribal 
officials.

Cuba Independent Schools Superintendent Karen Sanchez-Griego said staff 
began installing Starlink’s $500 receivers at students’ homes in 
November and hope to connect all 450 families by the end of the school 
year.

Traditional fiber optic cables haven't been installed around Cuba 
because of the area's sparse population, lack of money, and 
crisscrossing red tape from tribal, federal and state agencies that have 
to approve digging.

New Mexico education officials were ordered by a court in April to 
provide high-speed internet to students in Cuba and other areas but 
haven't done so.

Wi-Fi hotspots from the state didn't work well in remote areas far from 
cellphone towers. Education officials are planning on purchasing 
Starlink units for around 1,000 families around the state but haven't 
specified a timeline for doing it.

“Our kids can’t wait,” said Sanchez-Griego, adding that the investment 
is funded by federal relief money that will eventually run out paying 
for $100 monthly internet fees. “Our hope is that the state will come 
through."



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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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