Borderplex Connect, a regional non-profit, supported by the El Paso Community Foundation, was awarded $300,000 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Borderplex Connect will partner with community-based organizations in the following counties: El Paso, Doña Ana, and Luna to pursue innovative outreach efforts to reach historically underserved and unserved communities with affordable internet.

The Affordable Connectivity Program helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. Borderplex Connect will use a broad range of outreach strategies, both to increase awareness and to enroll eligible households to ACP which provides a discount of up to $30/month and up to $75/month for qualifying tribal lands. Borderplex Connect will work with trusted partners of the community on door-to-door outreach, direct mail, digital campaigns and ACP enrollment events.

“This grant is important in that it helps our community with access to a vital utility,” said Eric Pearson, President of the El Paso Community Foundation. “Access to affordable internet unlocks access to community, education, health and most importantly, a viable future.”

“Luna County has one of the highest rates of unserved populations in the country. For those that are connected, we measured some of the slowest speeds in the nation as well. Most of those without service, or service so slow they cannot do basic activities, such as school work, is directly related to cost. The ACP support for Luna County will make a huge impact on those with the most need,” stated Christie Ann Harvey, Executive Director for the Luna County Economic Opportunity Council.

“We are honored to be a partner within Borderplex Connect.” said Terra V. Winter, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, “It is important that we support our southern New Mexico region as access to affordable internet allows our communities to grow and flourish.”

The outreach campaign will utilize a broad range of outreach strategies, both to increase awareness and to enroll eligible households to ACP. Borderplex Connect will work with trusted partners of the community on door-to-door outreach, digital campaigns and ACP enrollment events.

To read full FCC announcement please visit: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-announces-66m-affordable-broadband-outreach-grants

Partners of the Grant:

-Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico

-El Paso Community Foundation

-Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness at UTEP

-Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

-Greater Luna County Economic Opportunity Council, Inc.

-Empowerment Congress of DAC