Solar-Powered Telecom Service to Navajo Lands

In a novel proposal before the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, the commission authorized a privately owned telecommunications carrier dedicated to extending service to rural areas in the state to utilize monies from the New Mexico Telecommunications Universal Service Fund (USF) for financing the installation of solar-powered units to provide voice and Internet service to homes without electricity on Navajo Lands.

The carrier, Sacred Wind, had informed the commission that new technology has been designed and developed that can use solar energy to power up a fixed wireless subscriber antenna, a voice/broadband modem, a computer, and at least one desk lamp. Under the plan adopted by the commission, Sacred Wind is to match monies from the New Mexico USF one to one. That is, one-half of all costs associated with the project will come from the USF while the carrier must cover the other half — a 100% match.