Eric Pearson, president and CEO of the El Paso Community Foundation, said the coalition has found that the percentage of residents without adequate internet access is much greater than what is recorded in FCC data.
The recently announced $300K grant goes to Borderplex Connect, which is under the auspices of the El Paso Community Foundation. Apparently they are then administering the funding of an outreach program in Dona Ana and Luna counties in NM called The Affordable Connectivity Program.
The ACP is tasked with increasing community awareness of the $30/mo subsidy availability, and with helping people sign up to get the subsidy. (this below is a more detailed story than PSA previously posted).
One would like to see more parameters for how the program actually accomplishes the goals specified. Obviously it will not be easy to contact people who by definition are lacking adequate internet access across the immensity of these two counties. What percentage of those on the wrong side of the digital divide are expected to be directly contacted? What portion of the $300K goes to just administer the program and grant?
PSA wishes them every success in this important endeavor, and that it will be just one of many forthcoming projects and programs addressing affordable quality access.
$300K award to jumpstart internet-aid outreach in Doña Ana County