During the 2016 NADO Annual Training Conference, Tim Armer, Executive Director of the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District, shared a presentation on regional, rural broadband development.

1. Open Access Community
Broadband Network
North Central New Mexico
NADO ANNUAL TRAINING CONFERENCE
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
OCTOBER 17, 2016

2. Context
• Includes jurisdictions comprising
about a third of our District
• Mountain ranges
• Primarily traditional, tribal and
rural communities
• Connects the poorest and richest
counties in New Mexico
• Higher unemployment, low
graduation rates, and chronic
health issues
• National lab and the region’s
largest urban area
• Interconnects with Kit Carson
Electric Co-op and Plateau Telecom
• Over 140 miles of fiber built
connecting over 150 Community
Anchor Institutions
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3. Background
In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless but
planning is indispensable.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower
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4. Background
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High-speed broadband was identified as a priority initiative through the
Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided federal funding
for broadband networks
Local and tribal governments in Northern New Mexico worked together
to submit an application for broadband funding to construct the Regional
Economic Development Initiative Network – REDI Net
$10.6 million grant awarded to NCNMEDD as fiscal and administrative
agent to construct REDI Net. The project cost totaled $13.5 million and
leveraged an additional $60+ million for the north central New Mexico
region.
Construction began on the REDI Net project and concluded September
2013. Built 140 miles of fiber with multiple Point Of Presence facilities
(major interconnects). The interjurisdictional Joint Powers Agreement
(JPA) was adopted by 4 tribes, 3 counties, 1 city and NCNMEDD and
approved by the State in January 2012
The grant was approved for close out. Full and formal operations of the
network began along with the provision of services to Community
Anchor Institutions and ISPs (last mile service providers).
2007
2008
2009-10
August 2010
June 2011 –
September 2013
January 2015

5. Significance for Communities
• Education
• Economic Development
• Energy Development
• Health Care
• Public Safety
• Water Resources
Management
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6. What is it?
•High-Speed, Fiber Optic, Metro Ethernet,
Broadband Network
•Middle Mile Backbone
•Open Access
•Community Owned and Managed
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7. High-Speed Broadband
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Type of
Service/
Connection
Rated Service/
Data Rate
E-mail w/
attachment
(2MB)
X-ray Photo
(8MB)
Instructional
Video
(600 MB)
DVD Movie
(4.7GB)
Dial-Up 56 Kbps 7.11 min 28.43 min 1.48 days 11.6 days
DSL Lite 416 Kbps 50 sec 3.33 min 4.17 hours 1.63 days
DSL 2 Mbps 9.50 sec 38.01 sec 47.51 min 6.20 hours
Fiber 10 Mbps 2.13 sec 8.53 sec 10.67 min 1.39 hours
Fiber 100 Mbps 0.21 sec 0.85 sec 1.07 min 8.36 min
Fiber 1 Gbps 0.02 sec 0.09 sec 6.40 sec 50.10 sec

8. Connects Institutions & Providers
• Federal funding for REDI Net was
limited to middle mile networks
• Middle mile networks connect and
provide service to
internet/broadband providers and
community institutions
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REDI Net Customers
• Internet or broadband
providers that offer
services to residential and
commercial customers
• Community institutions that
need large amounts of
dedicated bandwidth
(schools, hospitals,
government offices, etc.)
Middle mile networks are like
interstates that connect major
cities and communities.

9. Open Access
• Increased competition results in lower costs and higher quality
services
• REDI Net Board of Directors has adopted guidelines and an
application for providers who want to sell their services on REDI Net
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Any internet or broadband provider can sell
services on the REDI Net open access network

10. Community Owned
• Board of Directors will jointly manage the
network for 20 years
• Infrastructure is owned by the Pueblos
and counties within their jurisdictions
• Each partner contributed cash or in-kind
resources to obtain the grant
• All revenues are reinvested in the
network
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REDI Net is owned and
operated through a Joint
Powers Agreement (JPA)
REDI Net Owners and
Board of Directors
• City of Espanola
• Pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh
• Pueblo of Pojoaque
• Pueblo of Santa Clara
• Pueblo of Tesuque
• Los Alamos County
• Rio Arriba County
• Santa Fe County
• North Central NM Economic
Dev. District

11. Partnerships
•City of Espanola
•Los Alamos County
•North Central New Mexico Economic Development
District
•Pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh
•Pueblo of Pojoaque
•Pueblo of Santa Clara
•Pueblo of Tesuque
•Rio Arriba County
•Santa Fe County
•Pueblo of San Ildefonso
•Kit Carson Electric Co-op
•Jemez Mountains Electric Co-op
•Plateau Telecommunications
•Department of Energy
•Los Alamos National Labs
•Northern New Mexico College
•University of New Mexico
•New Mexico State University
•New Mexico Tech
•New Mexico Highlands University
•Santa Fe Community College
•Sandoval County
•Bernalillo County
•Nambe Pueblo
•Pueblo of Santo Domingo
•Pueblo of Santa Ana
•San Felipe Pueblo
•New Mexico Department of Information Technology
•Bureau of Reclamation
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12. Partnerships
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13. Take Aways
• Broadband is a common need but
developing it is incredibly
complex
• Started with a regional plan
• Have a solid business plan
• Be flexible and adaptable
• Build and maintain relationships
with private ISPs
• Maintain corporate knowledge
• Ensure professional management
• We need a State/national strategy
and substantial investment
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14. Bottom Line
“According to Regional Transit District Executive Director Anthony Mortillaro, REDI Net has been a vast
improvement over their previous internet connections since the District began using REDI Net a few
months ago. Mortillaro said that before REDI Net the District had cycled through Tewa and Windstream
with low bandwidths, unreliable connections, and expensive monthly bills. The District even flirted with
a T-1 line before determining it was too expensive after learning that it would cost $600 per month plus
a $700 installation fee.
For Mortillaro and the Transit District, REDI Net came at the right place at the right time. Mortillaro said
since switching to REDI Net, they’ve had virtually no connectivity and bandwidth issues. If the network
is ever in need of maintenance, REDI Net contacts the District and gives them fair warning. And at $300
per month with no installation fee, Mortillaro said he couldn’t be happier with the service he’s getting
for the cost.
You can’t get that type of speed with the other Internet service providers in the area,” said Mortillaro.
Interview in the Rio Grande Sun News
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REDI Net has been a vast improvement over their previous internet
connections since the District began using REDI Net a few months ago..
REDI Net came at the right place at the right time…
Mortillaro said he couldn’t be happier with the service he’s getting for
the cost…

15. 15
Connecting people to opportunities to improve the quality of life in our
communities and the region
Bottom Line

16. Discussion & Questions
Thank You!
www.redinetnm.org
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