SLIDE 1

BRINGING THE INTERNET TO NORTHERN NEW MEXICO

Introduction of the Internet to a Rural, Minority Community Wayne Summers (wsummers@merlin.nmhu.edu)
and
Curtis Sollohub
(csollohub@merlin.nmhu.edu)

SLIDE 2

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Minority University Research and Education Division of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Grant Number: NGT90070.

Dr. William Taylor (Grant Author and Manager)

Max Baca and the NMHU Computer Center Staff

SLIDE 3

Goals of the Presentation

Describe One Approach to Bringing the Internet into a Rural School System
Present the Lessons Learned
The Future of the Project

SLIDE 4 A Description of Northern New Mexico

Rural
Relatively Poor
Predominately Hispanic
Relatively Isolated
Proud, Hard Working People
Adequate Schools but....

SLIDE 5 The Initial Plan

Provide high speed Internet access to 4 schools and a community college in the Las Vegas area
To provide slower, frame relay based access to an additional 12 schools
Each site would get the necessary network equipment and one net capable PC.
This was a seed project

SLIDE 6 Where We Actually Started

Four schools in the two Las Vegas school districts
. - Two middle schools.
- Two high schools
One public library
All using frame relay technology

SLIDE 7 Issues for Rural Communities

Poor Support from the Regional Telephone Company;
Little Interest from Regional Network Management;
Little Local Understanding of the value of the Internet
-in the school district
-in the community.

SLIDE 8 Support From the Telephone Utilities

A year late on any support beyond traditional phone lines
Only frame relay
Only in Las Vegas area
Outer communities must use phone lines and modems
Need to create the political power to force better service

SLIDE 9 Technet Support

Only runs down center of state
Partially funded by the state but no clear mandate to serve state
Our initial connection was to Houston, Texas
Fear of competition from MCI has forced some cooperation

SLIDE 10 Selling the Local Community on the Value of the Internet

Had lead time because of delays with phone company
Our initial selling focus = schools
Held ‘Here Is the Internet’ workshops at university
Auditorium presentations at the schools
When the systems were ready the school communities were ready.

SLIDE 11 Issues for All Communities

Who provides the networking expertise
The network topology
Where is the initial computer housed and who is responsible for the network
What software is used
How are the location system’s administrators trained
How are the faculty, staff, and students trained to use the systems.

SLIDE 12