About Our Project:

The New Mexico State Library has partnered with the University of New Mexico, Global Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship, and 1st-Mile Institute to propose Fast-Forward New Mexico, an initiative to increase statewide broadband adoption and promote computer literacy and Internet use. The project intends to reach vulnerable populations, Hispanic and Native American users, small businesses, and entrepreneurs through small group trainings at public and Tribal libraries in 15 communities across the state. The partners estimate the project will result in 3,000 new household broadband subscribers, 1,000 new business and institutional broadband subscribers, and 3,200 new users at public computer centers. They intend to develop programs for first-time computer users that will address computer literacy and Internet usage. The New Mexico State Library also plans to provide training in computer and Internet use for small organizations and business owners. The Fast-Forward New Mexico project intends to improve New Mexico’s ranking of 46th nationally in percentage of Internet users, 49th in e-government, and 36th in broadband telecommunications when compared to other states, according to a report by the Kauffman Foundation and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. This proposal is part of Governor Bill Richardson’s five-year plan to phase in “broadband for all.”

This project is funded through a two-year grant of$1,457,488 from the U.S Department of Commerce’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.

Our Mission:

The Fast-Forward New Mexico project plans to:

• Offer eight different training courses to address basic computer literacy, Internet usage, and
• e-commerce practices.
• Provide outreach to Spanish-, Navajo-, and Pueblo-language-speaking populations.
• Track subscription rates and training outcomes, and publish results on the program Web site.
• Provide a centralized Web site to support awareness campaigns, broadband conferences, local
• community efforts, and train-the-trainer initiatives.
• Organize the New Mexico Broadband Conference to build on the Integrated Strategic Broadband Initiatives created by the State of New Mexico in 2009 to enable decision makers to implement “broadband for all”.

 Project Partners:

• 1^st -Mile Institute
• Global Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship
• University of New Mexico

Contact: 

Robert Blankenship

New Mexico State Library

1209 Camino Carlos Rey

Santa Fe, NM 8750

robert.blankenship@state.nm.us