PUEBLO OF LAGUNA – The New Mexico Broadband Collective has awarded the Pueblo of Laguna Utility Authority with $71,596 to increase internet connectivity in the pueblo. COVID-19 exposed the pueblo’s need for better connectivity. Currently, the Laguna Utility Authority services about 500 members of the Laguna community.
The New Mexico Broadband Collective was established after COVID- 19 took New Mexicans indoors and made workfrom- home the normal way of business. Due to the rural location of Cibola County, the establishment of internet infrastructure was never a real priority; this is true of most of New Mexico. The Broadband Collective saw a need for improved internet connectivity and took the opportunity from a grassroots perspective to improve NM’s internet access.
A total of $355,000 was given to different, rural power utilities in New Mexico. The Laguna Utility Authority is the only power company in Cibola County that received funding this round. The Picuris Pueblo in Taos County received $59,904 and True Kids 1 in Taos received $33,000. The Pueblo of Cochiti in Sandoval County received $40,500. Yee Ha’oolniidoo in San Juan and McKinley Counties received $75,000.
All of the allocated money will go toward increasing internet accessibility throughout the state.