Taos Pueblo Tribe case study

• Case
  • The Taos Pueblo is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in New Mexico that spans 15 acres with a population of around 1,425.
  • The Tribe originally had no access to Broadband Internet.
  • In 2014, the Taos Pueblo tribe began work on starting  high-speed Internet service from Kit Carson Telecom.
•  Funding/ Support
  • 2011 - 2012: partnered with Kit Carson Telecom and start of construction for installation of fiber optics 
    • $44 million grant through Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to bring Fiber-To-The-Home, and a $19.5 Million dollar United States Department of Agriculture loan.
    • program gives Taos Pueblo Tribal members the tools necessary to create economic development, telehealth/telemedicine, and most importantly educational opportunities 
• Strategies for success for this project
  • Partnerships that provide education
    • Working with Kit Carson Telecom not only provided opportunities for funding but also provided programing to community members to develop educational opportunities, health initiatives, and connectivity between members

Key Themes:

Reliance – Engagement

Issues: Education - Health initiatives

Strategies: Native Involvement - Partnerships

Forms of Access: Everyone - Community

Reference: https://muninetworks.org/content/indigenous-networks

https://www.taosnews.com/news/taos-pueblo-has-access-to-high-speed-internet/article_a770d1be-4256-5405-88d3-c410dc4ace47.html