John recently posted on the opportunities for digital production projects coming to New Mexico. Public Services Alliance encourages any projects becoming part of an economic development plan for rural New Mexico areas.
Workforce development has been a PSA focus for many years starting with the broadband stimulus grants in 2009. Yet, progress is slow in New Mexico as this new U.S. Census Bureau data released recently says New Mexico is among the least connected states to broadband in the nation.
Technology projects develop across the country in rural areas such as Washington state, Douglas County. In this article, crypto-optimism is shared by the state Department of Commerce, which regards cryptocurrency mining as a potential way to diversify rural economies where cheap power makes bitcoin mining possible. The department’s manager for business development, Evan Wendlandt, called the new Bitmain mine “a big win” for the county.
Big wins for rural areas increase where economic development opportunities increase as broadband access increases. One tech upgrade to internet access that may make a notable difference for a rural states like NM and rural WA is 5G.
Some have recently noted that 5G requires a Fiber-Optical network to be in place. The big plus of 5G is that it doesn’t require expensive FTH (fiber to the home) rollouts, but it does require a Fiber “backbone” network, from which the 5G can “branch out” to homes. So 5G is a huge boon, but it will require build out of more Fiber-Optic cable, and that is an expense that is thought will slow roll out to very low population density areas.
That delay could be eliminated if the FCC, or other US government policy, supports or subsidizes the lower ROI in the rural areas, such as was/is the case for POTS.
More tech details here: http://telecoms.com/?p=492010.