Rural and unincorporated areas in New Mexico, including Lea County, face pressing challenges as a result of the lack of broadband access. Data from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) indicates that this lack of broadband access affects approximately 22% of New Mexicans and that about 70% of New Mexicans have only one choice when it comes to an Internet Service Provider.
Earlier this year New Mexico’s U S Senator Martin Heinrich (D) stated in a letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, “… the lack of access to broadband internet service in New Mexico has created an uneven playing field for our communities. This impacts our school children, our businesses, and our healthcare.”
Senator Heinrich continued, “Without broadband connectivity, entire rural, unincorporated, and Tribal communities are left without the means to diversify and grow their economies.”
Better Broadband Access for Lea County
The need to improve broadband access in Lea County was brought to the attention of the Lea County Commissioners at their regular meeting on Thursday, May 26.
David Jimenez, CEO of Leaco Rural Telephone Cooperative Inc., with Jal Mayor Stephen Aldridge and Jal City Manager Matt White proposed a project to extend broadband service within the county, especially to the south.
Jimenez told commissioners that as a result of the proposed project fiber optics cable would be laid west of Hobbs. It would then be extended to Monument and onto the south of Eunice, continuing south to Jal. The result would be high-speed internet for hundreds of county residents and businesses that lack such service today.
“Fiber is the solution. It’s the end game that everybody wants to get to, eventually,” Jimenez said.
Cost of Project
Mayor Aldridge told commissioners that funding for a significant portion of the project, the cost of which has been estimated at approximately $4.5 million, has already been committed by his city, as well as by its hospital and school districts. “We have a firm commitment for $3.5 million. The schools committed to $1.5 million. The hospital district committed $1.5 million and the city $500,000.”
Appreciative of the committed funding and noting that additional funding is necessary, Mayor Aldridge was not shy in asking Lea County to contribute to the project. Commissioner Jonathan Sena asked how much money is needed, and City Manager White estimated between $1.1 million to $1.4 million.
Most of Cable to Be Laid in District 5
District 5 is the area where most of the cable will be laid if the project is approved. The district starts “near Highway 62-180 at the Eddy County line and continues to the east until Dal Paso”. Continuing south, “it eventually extends to the Texas state-line and continues to the southern county-line where it borders the Texas state-line.”
At the meeting District 5 Commissioner Pat Sims said, “Looking at this project, I see the potential for bringing in a lot more businesses on that route, especially west of Hobbs and south of Eunice.
Lea County Manager Mike Gallagher queried about securing better broadband access for Lea County residents who live in the more northerly areas of the county between Lovington and Tatum. Leaco CEO Jimenez responded that much of the northern part of the county already has fiber optics.
About the proposed project which is focused on the southern not the northern areas of the county, the Commission’s Chairman Dean Jackson said, “I think this is a very worthwhile project to get Lea County up into the 21st Century. We’ve all been frustrated with what happens on the internet.” Commissioner Jackson went on to say that the project is a “no-brainer” and “a very worthwhile project for us [the county] to invest in.”
Still, Lea County Commissioners took no action at Thursday’s meeting to fund the project, and the status of bringing additional and better broadband access to Lea County residents and businesses, especially those located in southern areas of the county, remains in flux.
