Pueblo of Jemez – FTTH – Jemez 01 TL, Jemez Valley 01, and Jemez Valley 02 PAUs
The Pueblo of Jemez seeks funding to deploy a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) priority broadband network that will provide high-speed, reliable, and scalable internet services to unserved and underserved locations. This project builds on the work of JemezNet (JNET), the Pueblo’s tribally chartered broadband entity, transitioning the community from limited fixed wireless access to a resilient fiber-based infrastructure. The network will use XGS-PON technology, enabling symmetrical gigabit speeds with low latency, future scalability, and the capacity to meet growing broadband demands. The project will serve three designated Project Area Units (PAUs): Jemez 01 TL, Jemez Valley 01, and Jemez Valley 02. Jemez 01 TL is on Pueblo of Jemez tribal land, where infrastructure investments will directly support tribal members. Jemez Valley 01 and Jemez Valley 02 are non-tribal areas with Indigenous and non-Indigenous households in the Jemez Valley Corridor, where residents also experience broadband access challenges. The FTTH design will support resilient connections, network resiliency, and future 10 Gbps+ capacity. The network will provide high-speed, reliable broadband service plans designed to be affordable and scalable. Residential plans will include 100/20 Mbps, 500/500 Mbps, and 1 Gbps/1 Gbps, while 10 Gbps enterprise services will be available for government institutions, businesses, and anchor institutions. A structured pricing model will align with market rates while maintaining affordability. Households eligible for federal or state broadband assistance programs will receive subsidized service, reducing financial barriers. Additionally, public Wi-Fi hotspots will be deployed in key areas to increase free digital access. JNET’s customer support team, composed of local staff, will provide bilingual (Jemez/English) technical assistance and digital literacy training, ensuring all community members can fully utilize broadband services. This project will serve the entirety of the Pueblo of Jemez’s tribal land while expanding broadband access to underserved areas in Jemez Valley 01 and Jemez Valley 02. The total service area includes 137 unserved Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs). The Pueblo’s geographic isolation and economic conditions highlight the necessity of broadband expansion. Approximately 29.6% of residents live at 200% of the poverty line, with many households lacking an internet subscription due to cost barriers and the absence of high-speed service. Digital access is essential for education, workforce training, telehealth, and economic development, yet existing service options remain unaffordable or technologically inadequate. At the Pueblo of Jemez, Jemez (Towa) is not just a language—it is a lifeline to cultural identity. Spoken by the vast majority of community members, Jemez (Towa) is entirely unwritten and exists nowhere else in the world. With 91% of households speaking Jemez (Towa) rather than English at home, broadband adoption efforts must be deeply rooted in culturally relevant digital literacy programs. These efforts will ensure equitable access to technology while preserving and strengthening the Pueblo’s linguistic heritage. The high cost of broadband infrastructure deployment in a rural, mountainous terrain is a significant barrier to broadband expansion. Commercial providers have little incentive to invest in areas with low population density, challenging topography, and limited economic return. As a result, existing broadband services are unavailable, unreliable, or unaffordable, leaving many residents disconnected from essential digital services. Without grant support, the Pueblo cannot construct the fiber infrastructure necessary to serve all BSLs within the community. BEAD funding will provide the capital investment needed to transition from limited fixed wireless coverage to a fully fiber-based network, ensuring reliable, high-speed connectivity for all households, businesses, and anchor institutions. Expanding broadband infrastructure will also create workforce development opportunities, allowing tribal members to be trained and employed in broadband construction, network maintenance, and customer service roles. Without this investment, the Pueblo remains at risk of ongoing digital exclusion, limiting its ability to provide essential services, support economic growth, and ensure all residents have access to the opportunities that reliable broadband enables. The total project budget reflects a 75% grant request with a 25% match contribution, sourced through the New Mexico Match Fund for federal match dollars (pending, actively pursuing). The Pueblo of Jemez will additionally leverage right-of-way access, workforce training initiatives, and existing JNET facilities to efficiently apply project costs and support long-term sustainability. The Pueblo of Jemez has structured a 48-month deployment timeline, prioritizing environmental compliance, workforce readiness, and service activation to ensure broadband is delivered on schedule. During the first three to six months, JNET will secure environmental and regulatory approvals, including consultations with THPO, SHPO, BIA, and DOT. NEPA reviews will be conducted alongside network planning, and procurement processes will be initiated to secure fiber materials and workforce resources ahead of construction. The next 36 months [1] [2] will focus on fiber trenching, aerial and underground conduit - installation, and network deployment. The network backbone and last-mile fiber connections will be deployed using a quarterly milestone approach, prioritizing unserved and underserved households first. Middle-mile interconnections will establish reliable backhaul, enhancing network resiliency. The final six months will be dedicated to network testing, service activation, and digital literacy training. JNET will verify that broadband speeds meet or exceed BEAD program standards, assist with customer installations, and conduct community outreach programs to support broadband adoption. The Pueblo of Jemez has developed a comprehensive sustainability plan integrating scalable infrastructure, revenue generation, workforce development, and digital inclusion initiatives. The fiber backbone is designed for long-term expansion, allowing future upgrades without requiring major reinvestment. A tiered service model will ensure affordability while maintaining financial sustainability, with additional revenue from regional fiber transport leasing supporting network operations. JNET’s workforce training program will develop local broadband technicians and customer service professionals, ensuring long-term employment opportunities and reducing reliance on external contractors. Digital Navigators will provide bilingual technical support, ensuring that broadband adoption efforts address linguistic and cultural barriers while promoting digital literacy and broadband use across all service areas.