PRESS RELEASE
Socorro Electric Cooperative (SEC) to bring broadband infrastructure to Magdalena, NM!
Socorro, New Mexico - November 21, 2022: On November 10, 2022, the governor’s office announced the recipients of $38.6 million in funding through the Connect New Mexico Pilot Program. The funds are the first of $120 million delivered through the Connect New Mexico Pilot Program to bring statewide broadband access across New Mexico. Initial grants were awarded to a diverse group of recipients, with projects supporting scalable broadband infrastructure that will serve their communities for decades.
Socorro Electric Cooperative (SEC) is one of four recipients being awarded this grant to support broadband infrastructure. SEC has partnered with Continental Divide Electric Cooperative, to provide Red Bolt Broadband internet to parts of its service area. The Village of Magdalena will serve as a pilot project for the two neighboring cooperatives.
Socorro Electric and Continental Divide Electric greatly appreciate the funding support from the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) and the state’s Connect New Mexico Pilot program. This pilot project is a game changer for the Village of Magdalena and Magdalena Municipal School District as it will greatly improve connecting with telehealth services, homework & schooling for students/teachers, small businesses, and overall online access.
Approximately 300 homes, businesses, and institutions which are currently unserved will leapfrog with speeds from less than 25/3 Mbps to symmetrical 1 Gbps, and potentially faster in the future as demand for high bandwidth-consuming applications grows. This project will foster momentum to build throughout the areas of Socorro Electric Cooperative service territory with future proof technologies like fiber-to-the-premises.
In doing this Socorro Electric Cooperative and Continental Divide Electric Cooperative continue the tradition of cooperation among cooperatives in bringing critical services to the unserved.
A formal announcement will be held at the Magdalena Village Hall located at 108 North Main Street, Magdalena, NM 87825 on Tuesday, November 29th at 1pm.
Contact: Ellena Tapia, Director of Communications & Public Affairs
Phone: 575.835.0560
Fax: 575.835.4449
Socorro Electric Cooperative, Inc.
215 E. Manzanares Ave.
P.O. Box H
Socorro, NM 87801