Regional Project Highlights
Jemez Education Network
Location: Jemez Pueblo
Description: Fast internet for libraries, schools, tribal government offices, homes - 100 Mbps
COVID relief funded project
The Jemez Pueblo Tribal Network provides high-speed Internet to Jemez Pueblo government offices and departments, as well as 500 Jemez Pueblo homes, through a new, tribally-owned fiber-optic network. The plan was launched by successfully applying for and securing an E-Rate (Educational Rate) application from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that brought the initial funds to connect Fiber for high-speed internet. The project built on the foundation of a Federal Communications Commission E-rate program (Educational Rate) to connect Jemez Library, San Diego Riverside and Walatowa High Charter Schools to high-speed internet. About $4 million between 2016-2018 for fiber infrastructure in two schools and six libraries at Jemez, Zia, Santa Ana, Santo Domingo, San Felipe and Cochiti pueblos.
The main distribution frame for the Jemez Tribal Network is at bigbyte.cc at the Albuquerque data center and it is replicated by smaller equipment at Jemez Pueblo, plus a new tower which distributes the wireless signal to the community and to each home, which is set up with a receiver and modem to connect to the internet. i9 Technologies assisted with the program’s engineering and deployment and the data center provided training space for the Jemez team.
Funding:
Population: About 3,000 people live on Jemez Pueblo in Sandoval County. |
Partners:
Deployment Team: 6 FT Techs (originally 16)
Network Operations Center (NOC): 1 FT Supervisor
Total Installs requested so far: over 445 Active circuits online
Jemez Pueblo Tribal Network Usage: 90%
Quotes:
Michael Toledo Jr., Jemez Pueblo Governor
“This is a big moment. For years our tribal leaders, the governors, tribal council, and directors from our departments have been planning how to get internet service to our people. It’s really about location. Jemez didn’t have the resources to get fiber all the way to us, and we don’t really have a way to generate our own funding. This project was shovel ready. The need was there, and then that money became available.”
https://www.abqjournal.com/2367048/jeme-zpueblo-connects-to-highspeed-internet.html
Michael Toledo Jr., Jemez Pueblo Governor
“The Pueblo of Jemez has worked diligently to develop the Jemez Pueblo Tribal Network to provide Broadband–high-speed connectivity through fiber-optic connections and wireless networks to ensure our people have the tools necessary to address pandemic issues and pursue future educational and career opportunities,” The Paper https://abq.news/2021/03/jemez-pueblo-gets-high-speed-internet
Nerissa Whittington, bigbyte founder and owner
“It’s especially important at this time when so many people need to be working from home.”
https://www.abqjournal.com/2367048/jeme-zpueblo-connects-to-highspeed-internet.html
Michael Chinana, Jemez Pueblo first lieutenant governor
“This broadband just opens up a bunch of doors for our artists, for our children, for our business people, for those people who have been laid off from restaurants, casinos, hotels that closed. Now that a lot of them are looking at working from home, this internet opens up that capability.”
https://www.abqjournal.com/2367048/jeme-zpueblo-connects-to-highspeed-internet.html
Kevin Shendo, Jemez Pueblo education director
“It’s night and day. It’s redefining the digital landscape of our community. The beauty of it is that we own the network. We are able to have control over the service and the speeds that we provide.”
https://www.abqjournal.com/2367048/jeme-zpueblo-connects-to-highspeed-internet.html
Lynn Trujillo, cabinet secretary for the state Indian Affairs Department
The Jemez internet project could be a model for other pueblos and rural communities. The pueblo did an incredible job of planning and preparing for the time when the funds would become available. It’s a total package that covers everything from infrastructure to workforce. I think that’s really promising and empowering, and it could be replicated elsewhere. We just need funding.”
https://www.abqjournal.com/2367048/jeme-zpueblo-connects-to-highspeed-internet.html
Lynn Trujillo, cabinet secretary for the state Indian Affairs Department
“The Lujan Grisham administration is committed to ensuring broadband access for every community. The Pueblo of Jemez should be commended for this tremendous accomplishment. The people of Jemez Pueblo will now be able to access the internet for school, work, healthcare, and to stay connected to the world.” The Paper https://abq.news/2021/03/jemez-pueblo-gets-high-speed-internet/
Press:
The Walatowan - March 2021
https://www.jemezpueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2021MARCHWalatowanfinalprintcopy-1.pdf
Albuquerque Journal - March 8., 2021
https://www.abqjournal.com/2367048/jeme-zpueblo-connects-to-highspeed-internet.html
Red Lake Nation News - March 8 2021
https://www.redlakenationnews.com/story/2021/03/08/news/indian-affairs-department-congratulates-the-pueblo-of-jemez-as-broadband-internet-goes-live/96361.html
The Paper - March 7. 2021
https://abq.news/2021/03/jemez-pueblo-gets-high-speed-internet/
KOAT - March 5, 2021
https://www.koat.com/article/jemez-pueblo-now-has-high-speed-internet/35747880#
KRQE - March 5, 2021
https://www.jemezpueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2021MARCHWalatowanfinalprintcopy-1.pdf
Indian Country Today - March 5, 2021
https://indiancountrytoday.com/the-press-pool/state-of-new-mexico-indian-affairs-department-congratulates-the-pueblo-of-jemez-as-broadband-internet-goes-live
KOB - February 25, 2021
https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Tribal-Consortium.pdf
Indigineous Broadband Networks - Map https://muninetworks.org/content/indigenous-networks
PED Jemez Zia Tribal Consortium
https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Tribal-Consortium.pdf
National Tribal Broadband Summit - September 23, 2019 - How to Leverage Erate to bring Broadband to Your Community
https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/21.-how-to-leverage-e-rate-to-bring-broadband-to-your-community.pdf
Description: Fast internet for libraries, schools, tribal government offices, homes - 100 Mbps
COVID relief funded project
The Jemez Pueblo Tribal Network provides high-speed Internet to Jemez Pueblo government offices and departments, as well as 500 Jemez Pueblo homes, through a new, tribally-owned fiber-optic network. The plan was launched by successfully applying for and securing an E-Rate (Educational Rate) application from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that brought the initial funds to connect Fiber for high-speed internet. The project built on the foundation of a Federal Communications Commission E-rate program (Educational Rate) to connect Jemez Library, San Diego Riverside and Walatowa High Charter Schools to high-speed internet. About $4 million between 2016-2018 for fiber infrastructure in two schools and six libraries at Jemez, Zia, Santa Ana, Santo Domingo, San Felipe and Cochiti pueblos.
The main distribution frame for the Jemez Tribal Network is at bigbyte.cc at the Albuquerque data center and it is replicated by smaller equipment at Jemez Pueblo, plus a new tower which distributes the wireless signal to the community and to each home, which is set up with a receiver and modem to connect to the internet. i9 Technologies assisted with the program’s engineering and deployment and the data center provided training space for the Jemez team.
Funding:
- $2 million of Tribe’s CARES Act funds approved by the Jemez Tribal Council
- $1.4 million of State of NM CARES Act funds
- $1.3 million in state capital outlay funds
- Private grants funded the remainder of the project
Population: About 3,000 people live on Jemez Pueblo in Sandoval County. |
Partners:
- Jemez Day School (BIE School)
- San Diego Riverside (NM Charter School)
- Walatowa High School (NM Charter School)
- Jemez Tribal Library
- T’siya Day School Elementary School (BIE)
- Zia Tribal Library
- BigByte
- i9 Technologies
Deployment Team: 6 FT Techs (originally 16)
Network Operations Center (NOC): 1 FT Supervisor
Total Installs requested so far: over 445 Active circuits online
Jemez Pueblo Tribal Network Usage: 90%
Quotes:
Michael Toledo Jr., Jemez Pueblo Governor
“This is a big moment. For years our tribal leaders, the governors, tribal council, and directors from our departments have been planning how to get internet service to our people. It’s really about location. Jemez didn’t have the resources to get fiber all the way to us, and we don’t really have a way to generate our own funding. This project was shovel ready. The need was there, and then that money became available.”
https://www.abqjournal.com/2367048/jeme-zpueblo-connects-to-highspeed-internet.html
Michael Toledo Jr., Jemez Pueblo Governor
“The Pueblo of Jemez has worked diligently to develop the Jemez Pueblo Tribal Network to provide Broadband–high-speed connectivity through fiber-optic connections and wireless networks to ensure our people have the tools necessary to address pandemic issues and pursue future educational and career opportunities,” The Paper https://abq.news/2021/03/jemez-pueblo-gets-high-speed-internet
Nerissa Whittington, bigbyte founder and owner
“It’s especially important at this time when so many people need to be working from home.”
https://www.abqjournal.com/2367048/jeme-zpueblo-connects-to-highspeed-internet.html
Michael Chinana, Jemez Pueblo first lieutenant governor
“This broadband just opens up a bunch of doors for our artists, for our children, for our business people, for those people who have been laid off from restaurants, casinos, hotels that closed. Now that a lot of them are looking at working from home, this internet opens up that capability.”
https://www.abqjournal.com/2367048/jeme-zpueblo-connects-to-highspeed-internet.html
Kevin Shendo, Jemez Pueblo education director
“It’s night and day. It’s redefining the digital landscape of our community. The beauty of it is that we own the network. We are able to have control over the service and the speeds that we provide.”
https://www.abqjournal.com/2367048/jeme-zpueblo-connects-to-highspeed-internet.html
Lynn Trujillo, cabinet secretary for the state Indian Affairs Department
The Jemez internet project could be a model for other pueblos and rural communities. The pueblo did an incredible job of planning and preparing for the time when the funds would become available. It’s a total package that covers everything from infrastructure to workforce. I think that’s really promising and empowering, and it could be replicated elsewhere. We just need funding.”
https://www.abqjournal.com/2367048/jeme-zpueblo-connects-to-highspeed-internet.html
Lynn Trujillo, cabinet secretary for the state Indian Affairs Department
“The Lujan Grisham administration is committed to ensuring broadband access for every community. The Pueblo of Jemez should be commended for this tremendous accomplishment. The people of Jemez Pueblo will now be able to access the internet for school, work, healthcare, and to stay connected to the world.” The Paper https://abq.news/2021/03/jemez-pueblo-gets-high-speed-internet/
Press:
The Walatowan - March 2021
https://www.jemezpueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2021MARCHWalatowanfinalprintcopy-1.pdf
Albuquerque Journal - March 8., 2021
https://www.abqjournal.com/2367048/jeme-zpueblo-connects-to-highspeed-internet.html
Red Lake Nation News - March 8 2021
https://www.redlakenationnews.com/story/2021/03/08/news/indian-affairs-department-congratulates-the-pueblo-of-jemez-as-broadband-internet-goes-live/96361.html
The Paper - March 7. 2021
https://abq.news/2021/03/jemez-pueblo-gets-high-speed-internet/
KOAT - March 5, 2021
https://www.koat.com/article/jemez-pueblo-now-has-high-speed-internet/35747880#
KRQE - March 5, 2021
https://www.jemezpueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2021MARCHWalatowanfinalprintcopy-1.pdf
Indian Country Today - March 5, 2021
https://indiancountrytoday.com/the-press-pool/state-of-new-mexico-indian-affairs-department-congratulates-the-pueblo-of-jemez-as-broadband-internet-goes-live
KOB - February 25, 2021
https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Tribal-Consortium.pdf
Indigineous Broadband Networks - Map https://muninetworks.org/content/indigenous-networks
PED Jemez Zia Tribal Consortium
https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Tribal-Consortium.pdf
National Tribal Broadband Summit - September 23, 2019 - How to Leverage Erate to bring Broadband to Your Community
https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/21.-how-to-leverage-e-rate-to-bring-broadband-to-your-community.pdf
Cochiti Pueblo Fiber to the Home & MDF Retrofit/Upgrade
Location: Pueblo of Cochiti
Description: Provide fiber service to 260 locations and retrofit an existing structure as a “Main Distribution Facility (MDF) IT Building
Contract: Intergovernmental Agreement
Duration: 29 May 2020 to August 2021
Total Appropriation: $2,874,843 (NM Broadband Program Appropriation)
Obligated Funds: $2,791,402
Use: Broadband access to the home and building upgrade to a new Information Technology Main Distribution Facility (MDF)Technology: Fiber build
Target: Homes
Construction: Ongoing (97% complete)
Completion:
Description: Provide fiber service to 260 locations and retrofit an existing structure as a “Main Distribution Facility (MDF) IT Building
Contract: Intergovernmental Agreement
Duration: 29 May 2020 to August 2021
Total Appropriation: $2,874,843 (NM Broadband Program Appropriation)
Obligated Funds: $2,791,402
Use: Broadband access to the home and building upgrade to a new Information Technology Main Distribution Facility (MDF)Technology: Fiber build
Target: Homes
Construction: Ongoing (97% complete)
Completion:
Navajo Nation Broadband and Rural Addressing
Location: Navajo Nation
Description: Plan, design, and construct improvements including conducting archaeological and environmental studies towards rural addressing and broadband internet access across the Navajo Nation
Contract: Intergovernmental Agreement
Duration: 29 May 2020 to 30 June 2024
Total Appropriation: $3M (Severance Tax Bonds)
Obligated Funds: $2,221,077.97
Use: Match funds for USAC/E-Rate Projects
Technology: Fiber build
Target: Schools, Head Start, Libraries (Chapter Houses)
Construction: Ongoing
Completion: Estimated last quarter of 2022
Description: Plan, design, and construct improvements including conducting archaeological and environmental studies towards rural addressing and broadband internet access across the Navajo Nation
Contract: Intergovernmental Agreement
Duration: 29 May 2020 to 30 June 2024
Total Appropriation: $3M (Severance Tax Bonds)
Obligated Funds: $2,221,077.97
Use: Match funds for USAC/E-Rate Projects
Technology: Fiber build
Target: Schools, Head Start, Libraries (Chapter Houses)
Construction: Ongoing
Completion: Estimated last quarter of 2022
Comcast brings 1.2 Gbps fiber Internet to Gallup, NM
Location: Navajo Nation
Description: Plan, design, and construct improvements including conducting archaeological and environmental studies towards rural addressing and broadband internet access across the Navajo Nation
Contract: Intergovernmental Agreement
Duration: 29 May 2020 to 30 June 2024
Total Appropriation: $3M (Severance Tax Bonds)
Obligated Funds: $2,221,077.97
Use: Match funds for USAC/E-Rate Projects
Technology: Fiber build
Target: Schools, Head Start, Libraries (Chapter Houses)
Construction: Ongoing
Completion: Estimated last quarter of 2022
https://www.broadbandtechreport.com/fiber/article/14213037/comcast-brings-12gbps-fiber-internet-to-gallup-nm
Currently, more than 9,000 homes and businesses have access to Comcast’s network in Gallup, New Mexico.
In New Mexico, Comcast this month announced the company has introduced additional Internet speed tiers for homes and small businesses in the Gallup area, with internet speeds up to 1.2 Gbps now available to new and existing customers.
Currently, more than 9,000 homes and businesses have access to Comcast’s network in Gallup. Consumers have access to all of the company's Xfinity Internet packages including 50 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 300 Mbps, 600 Mbps, 900 Mbps, and 1.2 Gig speed tiers. From supporting four connected devices at a time, to speeds designed for heavy streamers, Gallup residents have a variety of Comcast options to keep them connected. Bill Lee, CEO, Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce, commented, “Fast and reliable broadband is a key component of a vibrant economy. As Gallup businesses continue to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, it is good to see Comcast’s investment in our community to help ensure that new and existing businesses will have the bandwidth needed to succeed in the digital economy. With Internet speeds ranging from 50 Mbps to 1.2 Gigabits, Gallup can continue to recruit more industry sectors into our community, and help existing businesses grow.” Additionally, Comcast announced it will continue to offer its low-cost, high-speed Internet program, Internet Essentials, to help provide more low-income households in Gallup with the tools and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. The program provides 50 Mbps at-home internet access to low-income households for $9.95 per month. Households that qualify for programs like the National School Lunch Program, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and others may qualify for Internet Essentials. Since the program launched in 2011, Comcast says it has connected 296,000 low-income New Mexicans to the power of the Internet at home, including 2,800 individuals in Gallup. Sarah Piano, Managing Regional Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region, asserted, “When Comcast operates in your community, you can count on them to provide support to local nonprofits and community organizations. Comcast is a long-standing partner and an amazing supporter of our critical mentoring work in Gallup and across New Mexico. Their Internet Essentials program is extremely affordable and helped us connect dozens of our families to an at-home Internet connection, which was critical this past year more than ever. Comcast genuinely cares about the communities they work in and continually strives to make things better for the families within those communities. We are so grateful for their partnership.”
Description: Plan, design, and construct improvements including conducting archaeological and environmental studies towards rural addressing and broadband internet access across the Navajo Nation
Contract: Intergovernmental Agreement
Duration: 29 May 2020 to 30 June 2024
Total Appropriation: $3M (Severance Tax Bonds)
Obligated Funds: $2,221,077.97
Use: Match funds for USAC/E-Rate Projects
Technology: Fiber build
Target: Schools, Head Start, Libraries (Chapter Houses)
Construction: Ongoing
Completion: Estimated last quarter of 2022
https://www.broadbandtechreport.com/fiber/article/14213037/comcast-brings-12gbps-fiber-internet-to-gallup-nm
Currently, more than 9,000 homes and businesses have access to Comcast’s network in Gallup, New Mexico.
In New Mexico, Comcast this month announced the company has introduced additional Internet speed tiers for homes and small businesses in the Gallup area, with internet speeds up to 1.2 Gbps now available to new and existing customers.
Currently, more than 9,000 homes and businesses have access to Comcast’s network in Gallup. Consumers have access to all of the company's Xfinity Internet packages including 50 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 300 Mbps, 600 Mbps, 900 Mbps, and 1.2 Gig speed tiers. From supporting four connected devices at a time, to speeds designed for heavy streamers, Gallup residents have a variety of Comcast options to keep them connected. Bill Lee, CEO, Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce, commented, “Fast and reliable broadband is a key component of a vibrant economy. As Gallup businesses continue to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, it is good to see Comcast’s investment in our community to help ensure that new and existing businesses will have the bandwidth needed to succeed in the digital economy. With Internet speeds ranging from 50 Mbps to 1.2 Gigabits, Gallup can continue to recruit more industry sectors into our community, and help existing businesses grow.” Additionally, Comcast announced it will continue to offer its low-cost, high-speed Internet program, Internet Essentials, to help provide more low-income households in Gallup with the tools and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. The program provides 50 Mbps at-home internet access to low-income households for $9.95 per month. Households that qualify for programs like the National School Lunch Program, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and others may qualify for Internet Essentials. Since the program launched in 2011, Comcast says it has connected 296,000 low-income New Mexicans to the power of the Internet at home, including 2,800 individuals in Gallup. Sarah Piano, Managing Regional Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region, asserted, “When Comcast operates in your community, you can count on them to provide support to local nonprofits and community organizations. Comcast is a long-standing partner and an amazing supporter of our critical mentoring work in Gallup and across New Mexico. Their Internet Essentials program is extremely affordable and helped us connect dozens of our families to an at-home Internet connection, which was critical this past year more than ever. Comcast genuinely cares about the communities they work in and continually strives to make things better for the families within those communities. We are so grateful for their partnership.”
