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

[Michael Harris]

>
> crisscrossing red tape from tribal, federal and state agencies that have
> to approve digging.


What is DoIT doing to lobby other state agencies to approve digging? The
best time to start solving that problem was 10 years ago. The next best
time is now.

On Thu, Dec 30, 2021 at 10:28 AM Richard Lowenberg <rl at 1st-mile.org> wrote:

> 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."
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> 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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>


-- 
Michael Harris
--
President, Visgence Inc.
www.visgence.com
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