MinerAlert
Since 2014, the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness at The University of Texas at El Paso has provided economic analysis of the Paso del Norte Region that includes the binational communities of El Paso, Texas; Las Cruces, N.M.; and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. The mission of the Hunt Institute is to produce high-quality market analysis tools that can strengthen regional and binational cross-border economic and social development.
Equitable access to high-speed broadband is crucial for economic development and competitiveness. Only 56.7% and 72.7% of El Paso County households and businesses reported having broadband access, with households and businesses in the east and Lower Valley regions being underserved. This is noticeably lower than the 96.8% broadband access reported by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This overstatement of broadband connectivity levels by the FCC could jeopardize the county’s ability to attract federal fund allocated to expanding broadband infrastructure in the country.
Estimates show that investment in broadband infrastructure expansion would result in a two-dollar increase to regional output for every dollar spent, not accounting for private estimate that could come to the region
New Mexico’s vast geography holds substantial economic value. Its trade routes, natural resources, and rural communities, for example, possess significant importance to regional and international commerce. At the same time, though, these distant geographies and their communities are often far from each other, challenging regional awareness and integration.
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