Electric Co-op Today

A $64 million broadband project at a New Mexico co-op is one step closer to reality.

Elected officials and other dignitaries break ground on Kit Carson Electric Co-op's new $64 million broadband fiber-to-the-home project. (Photo By: Kit Carson Electric Co-op)

Federal, state and local officials joined representatives of Kit Carson Electric Co-op to break ground on a broadband fiber-to-home initiative that will bring high-speed Internet access to thousands of rural residents.

The project, financed in part through the 2009 stimulus act, will have applications for economic development, education, public safety and health care, as well as for smart grid and “green grid” initiatives.

“We have a history of bringing quality, reliable and affordable services to every part of our expansive service area,” said Luis Reyes, Jr., chief executive officer of the Taos-based co-op.

“Our membership said we should also look for such ways to better serve our diverse communities, and our board of directors has responded by approving this ambitious and much-needed plan.”

Among the participants at the ceremony was Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., who said the broadband investment was what he had in mind when he voted for the stimulus legislation.

“This grant is not only creating jobs now in northern New Mexico, it is laying the groundwork to attract new businesses, improve health care services and create new education opportunities in the future,” he said.

Others at the event included U.S. Rep. Ben Lujan, D-N.M.; Taos Mayor Darren Cordova; Terry Brunner, the state director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and Bobby Ortega, chairman of the Kit Carson Electric Co-op board. The office of Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., was represented, as well.

The project will extend 100 mbps service to more than 20,000 rural residents of Taos, Colfax and Rio Arriba counties. Seventy percent of the costs are covered by the stimulus bill, and 30 percent by the co-op.

“We are honored to have been selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural development division to participate in this nationally pioneering initiative,” Ortega said. “Our congressional delegation is also to be commended for supporting this much needed boost for jobs, education, health care and sustainability.”

In a related project, officials cut the ribbon on the co-op’s new emergency command and communications center for the region. The command center also will serve as project headquarters for the broadband build-out.

Tags: Broadband, Stimulus Bill, Telecom