Subsidized Educational Internet Access via Leased Lines

As part of Technet's non-profit mission, we subsidize the costs of educational and public library Internet access via connections to our backbone for all non-profit public libraries, universities, vocational schools, junior colleges, community colleges, and especially K-12 institutions within New Mexico.

These subsidies include the costs of leased and/or purchased equipment that is connected to the dedicated circuits. This allows such institutions to have Internet access at significantly lower cost than is available commercially. This is the lowest priced Internet access available to New Mexico educational and library institutions, and Technet's lowest price to any customer group.

K-12 institutions pay only for the "tariffed" circuit charges, as set by the Federal Communications Commission, for a 56 Kbps Frame Relay Service circuit. New Mexico Technet provides the Internet access free to K-12 schools on a 56 Kbps connection. For higher bandwidth connections, K-12 institutions pay the FCC tariffed charges plus a nominal monthly charge for the Internet access. For instance, on a T1 circuit, the charge for Internet access is $500.00 plus tax.

The equipment necessary to provide Internet connectivity includes Cisco routers and Adtran CSU/DSUs. Cisco Systems, Inc. is on the State Purchasing Contract. All equipment is priced at the same or lower price than is available on the State Purchasing Contract for the same equipment. Technet configures and installs all equipment at the prices quoted.

We will be happy to provide any public library or any public or private K-12 school in New Mexico with Internet access and the appropriate equipment as a part of this program. Technet will also provide technical phone support as needed, and assist your organization in any way possible to utilize your Internet connection to the best possible means.

Through Technet's Computer Reruns program, computer equipment is provided free of charge to qualified educational institutions and non-profit organizations throughout the state. In a ceremony held in Santa Fe on February, 23, 2001, the Computer Reruns program donated its 20,000th computer.