BTOP Grant for North Central New Mexico Economic Development District

The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced a $10.6 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investment to help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth, create jobs, and improve education and healthcare in New Mexico.

The grant to the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District will fund the deployment of high-speed Internet infrastructure across the counties of Rio Arriba, Los Alamos, and northern Santa Fe, and to five Native American tribal communities. The project plans to directly connect more than 120 community anchor institutions to broadband service ­­ including public safety facilities, K-12 schools, community colleges, government buildings, healthcare providers, and libraries - which will support uses such as distance learning, telemedicine, and improved public safety communications. The project also intends to promote energy efficiency by enabling "smart grid" applications for regional rural electric cooperatives. In addition, local Internet service providers will be able to utilize the new infrastructure to deploy new or improved high-speed Internet service to consumers and businesses.