NMSU receives nearly $1.7 million grant to expand internet access

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — New Mexico State University received a nearly $1.7 million grant to expand internet access on campus.

The grant will not only improve internet access for family housing on campus but also expand access for certain agricultural science centers in the NMSU system.

Farmington will be first and, if funding is available, agricultural science centers at Mora and Alcalde will be next.

NMSU Farmington is part of the Agricultural Experiment Station system of research farms located across New Mexico. It is located on the Navajo Nation in northern New Mexico and serves the agricultural needs of the Four Corners Region. Many Navajo communities still have limited or no internet or cell connectivity.

“The two-year grant will improve broadband accessibility in our south campus family housing in Sutherland, Cervantes and Tom Fort Villages first,” said Diana V. Dugas, NMSU IT director of instruction and research support. “Then we have committed ourselves to extending internet access throughout our agricultural science center in Farmington.”
 

NMSU is among three Minority-Serving Institutions in New Mexico to receive a combined $5.2 million to increase internet coverage, speed and availability in their facilities.

“When I was studying to become an engineer in college, I can’t tell you how much of my own research could have benefitted from the incredible resources that are now available online,” Heinrich said. “That’s why I’m proud to welcome these federal grants from the NTIA so that students at these minority-serving institutions can have access to the internet, and more importantly, a future as bright as they are.”

The “Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program” is part of the federal “Internet for All Initiative” to connect everyone in America with affordable, reliable high-speed internet service. This program specifically directs $268 million from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 for expanding high-speed Internet access and connectivity to eligible HBCUs, Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs), and other Minority-serving institutions (MSIs).