Northern New Mexico Receives $74 Million in Broadband Stimulus Funds

August 16, 2010, Moriarty, NM—The North Central New Mexico Economic Development District (NCNMEDD) was awarded $10.6 from the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) in the US Department of Commerce for REDI Net, a high-speed, fiber optic, open access broadband network that will serve community anchor institutions in Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and northern Santa Fe counties and the Pueblos of San Ildefonso, Ohkay Owingeh, Santa Clara and Tesuque. In a coordinated application, Kit Carson Electric of Taos was awarded $68.3 million in a grant/loan combination from the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) in the US Department of Agriculture. Kit Carson’s Fiber-to-the-Home project will serve residents in 29 communities in Taos, Colfax and northern Rio Arriba counties, including the Pueblos of Taos and Picuris.

These two important projects have their roots in REDI, the Northern New Mexico Regional Economic Development Initiative, funded by Los Alamos County through its Progress through Partnering program. Through Progress through Partnering, Los Alamos County invests some of its gross receipts tax revenue in regional initiatives, including the REDI Economic Development Strategic Plan and implementation, which it has funded since 2008. The REDI Plan was developed by the Regional Development Corporation and its subcontractor, the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District. “REDI identified high-speed broadband as the region’s number one infrastructure priority, due to its ability to support home-based businesses; economic development in technology, media and renewable energy; distance learning; telemedicine; public safety; and a new generation of smart grid/green grid applications,” says Anthony J. Mortillaro, Los Alamos County Administrator. “This is a major investment in our region of which we should all be proud.”

Partners in the REDI Net application who contributed a 20% match to the project include Los Alamos County; Rio Arriba County; Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative; Los Alamos National Security, LLC; the City of Espanola and Northern New Mexico College. REDI plans to hold public information events on the broadband projects this fall. Please visit www.nnmredi.org for more information.