State grants expand broadband to thousands in Valencia and Socorro

Valencia High School students, state officials and broadband workers packed the VHS gymnasium on Jan. 13 as the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion announced $12.8 million in state grants to Resound Networks to bring internet to 4,093 homes, businesses, farms and community institutions across Valencia and Socorro counties.

The announcement came amid cheers, a marching band and costumed mascots that gave the Connect New Mexico event the feel of a pep rally. Sophomore Manuel Monsibais told the crowd the stakes in plain terms: “We all know that feeling of a spinning wheel,” Monsibais began. “But many times, for many in our community, that lag isn’t a momentary glitch. For some of us, it is our permanent reality. Right now a good portion of us in our community are stuck with slow or no internet. This isn’t just an inconvenience. Rather, it’s a barrier. When you have slow speeds, often students fall behind.”

Officials detailed how the funding will be distributed. Three projects funded through the Connect New Mexico Fund, totaling more than $7.4 million, will provide fiber and fixed wireless service to more than 3,100 locations. Those projects include the Valencia County Borderlands fiber project, connecting 338 locations at a cost of $2.6 million, and a Valencia County fixed wireless project serving 2,452 locations for $2.4 million.

The remaining three grants fall under the Student Connect program, a targeted effort to reach 975 rural student households and staff in Belen Consolidated Schools, Los Lunas Schools and Socorro Public Schools. Resound Networks received more than $5 million for those projects: $1.7 million will serve 416 Socorro households, $2 million will aid 243 Belen households, and $1.5 million will support 316 Los Lunas households.

State and local leaders framed the projects as more than construction. N.M. Sen. Angel Charley said the rollout “represents real access, opportunity, and safety for our community. In today’s world, the internet is a civil right. It is a civil right that we should all have access to. Just like electricity, just like clean drinking water, broadband is essential for our full participation in society.” Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, who grew up in rural Silver City, called the work “a game changer,” noting the benefits for education, health care and local economies. “It’s no longer that utilizing broadband WiFi is a luxury. It’s a necessity, and this gives the opportunity to do so,” Morales said.

OBAE Broadband Director Jeff Lopez emphasized follow-through and inclusion. “For those last 90 percent of households not yet connected to the internet, we are providing that resource,” Lopez said. “We are making sure the households are connected, the small businesses are connected, the community institutions and the farms. Everything that communities need to succeed in today’s society, we stand ready to support.”

Local impact will be felt in classroom access to assignments and video lessons, telehealth options for rural families, and expanded opportunities for remote work and small-business services. Schools and parents should expect phased construction and outreach from Resound Networks and district offices as installers map routes and verify eligibility.

The takeaway? This infusion of state dollars is a concrete step toward closing the digital divide in Valencia County, but it will take coordinated effort from schools, providers and families to turn ribbon cuttings into reliable home connections. Our two cents? Contact your school district or Resound Networks to confirm whether your household is on the maps, and be ready to schedule installation so the spinning wheel becomes a memory for local students.