Hilda Gonzalez lives at New Mexico State University with her family in campus housing. She is a hybrid student, which means she takes some classes in-person and others online. Access to the internet is critical to completing her classwork, but the service is often unpredictable in NMSU’s family housing units in south campus.

“It's very important for all students, no matter what level we're at, we’re studying every single day,” Gonzalez said. “A consistent internet connection's very important because each person has different needs. You know, some people study during the day and some people at night. We need that internet flowing smoothly 24/7 because students, especially when we have a family, have only so much time to get things done.”

About 20% of the student resident population at NMSU’s Las Cruces campus lives in housing units on south campus where internet connectivity will be upgraded thanks to a federal grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) “Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program.”

“Whenever the internet isn't working here, I can't get my homework done,” Gonzalez said. “If I have an assignment due that night and I'm finishing typing it up, ready to submit, then oops, I can't submit it. The internet is out. Then I have to try to use the hotspot on my phone so I can get my assignment in.”

“The two-year grant will improve broadband accessibility in our south campus family housing in Sutherland, Cervantes and Tom Fort Villages first,” said Diana V. Dugas, NMSU IT director of instruction and research support. “Then we have committed ourselves to extending internet access throughout our agricultural science center in Farmington.”

NMSU is among three Minority-Serving Institutions in New Mexico to receive a combined $5.2 million to increase internet coverage, speed and availability in their facilities.

“In this digital age, equitable access to a reliable, high-speed internet connection is vital for students to succeed both in and out of the classroom,”said U.S. Sen. Ben Luján (D-N.M.), chair of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband.

Luján and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced the grant along with U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.).

“When I was studying to become an engineer in college, I can’t tell you how much of my own research could have benefitted from the incredible resources that are now available online,” Heinrich said. “That’s why I’m proud to welcome these federal grants from the NTIA so that students at these minority-serving institutions can have access to the internet, and more importantly, a future as bright as they are.”

NMSU will receive nearly $1.7 million not only to improve internet access for family housing on the Las Cruces campus but also to expand access for certain agricultural science centers in the NMSU system. Farmington will be first and, if funding is available, agricultural science centers at Mora and Alcalde will be next.

“As an alum of NMSU, I’m particularly excited about the research possibilities that will come because of expanded internet access,”said Vasquez. “Internet access is crucial for students to conduct valuable agricultural research that supports New Mexico’s farms, ranches, national forests and more.”

NMSU Farmington is part of the Agricultural Experiment Station system of research farms located across New Mexico. It is located on the Navajo Nation in northern New Mexico and serves the agricultural needs of the Four Corners Region. Many Navajo communities still have limited or no internet or cell connectivity.

“During the COVID-19 shutdowns, we saw this firsthand as some NMSU students drove to our parking lot in order to connect with the internet to download homework while studying from home,” said Kevin Lombard, professor of horticulture and superintendent of the Farmington Agricultural Science Center. “This raised the question of how NMSU could better serve our community while also advancing opportunities to develop a digitally connected farm.

“Farms are increasingly utilizing tools like plant and soil monitoring probes, weather stations and irrigation systems that can be controlled remotely with smart phones in real time. I am excited that this project will provide possibilities for us to demonstrate new technologies while also benefiting neighboring communities through enhanced internet capacity.”

The “Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program” is part of the federal “Internet for All Initiative” to connect everyone in America with affordable, reliable high-speed internet service. This program specifically directs $268 million from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 for expanding high-speed Internet access and connectivity to eligible HBCUs, Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs), and other Minority-serving institutions (MSIs).

The work on NMSU family housing will begin in about six months, after historic preservation and environmental protection agencies have an opportunity to review the planned installations of hardware on the properties.

“The internet in those homes is incredibly poor,” Dugas said. “What we’ve had over the years is sort of a patchwork approach. It holds things together, but it’s not a permanent fix. This will be a permanent fix.”

Gonzalez will be completing her associate’s degree in early childhood education at Doña Ana Community College then transferring to earn her bachelor’s degree at NMSU. She is looking forward to the improved internet access as she continues her studies.

“My goal is to become a kindergarten teacher,” she said. “And, of course, later on I may decide to go for my master's in education.”