Photo by Tom Blackwell (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Pinos Altos is a historic mining town turned tourist haven in Grant County, New Mexico. Home to around 200 residents and a rich history that attracts visitors year-round, Pinos Altos faces a severe lack of digital infrastructure: no household has access to internet that meets federal broadband standards. We’re excited to partner with Hawk Networks to help change that.

Why Pinos Altos?

Having seen rapid depopulation following the decline of the gold mining industry, Pinos Altos has evolved into a prized tourist destination, with its ‘living ghost town’ character, preserved historic architecture, and stunning surroundings. The town serves as a gateway to the Gila National Forest, offering access to slot canyons, hiking trails, and hot springs. Visitors can stay at the local motel or campground, rent summer cabins, and stop by the Buckhorn Saloon, which first opened its doors in the 1860s. Pinos Altos is also one of New Mexico’s 118 designated colonias — rural communities identified as lacking sufficient infrastructure and investment. Expanding access to fast, reliable, and affordable internet will be foundational to the town’s development and build on its strengths as a hub for outdoor recreation and tourism.

The Project

With support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) program, Connect Humanity and Hawk Networks are developing a Broadband Connectivity and Digital Opportunity Plan for Pinos Altos. 

The partnership brings together two organizations committed to long-term, sustainable broadband solutions. Hawk Networks, the lead developers of the Althea platform, bring deep technical expertise in designing broadband networks that support local ownership, transparent and usage-based pricing, and long-term sustainability. Connect Humanity contributes its strength in community engagement, broadband financing, and digital inclusion to help communities like Pinos Altos move from planning to implementation.

Unlike traditional top-down broadband initiatives, this project is built from the ground up, combining participatory planning with infrastructure models that reflect Pinos Altos’ unique geography, goals, and values. Together, we aim to co-create a plan that is rooted in local priorities and designed to deliver lasting, community-controlled connectivity that supports residents and strengthens local businesses, while offering a model for digital resilience in rural communities across the Southwest.

Over the next year, the partnership will:

• Engage the community: Work with local residents, community organizations, and regional stakeholders to identify priorities, gather input, and build a shared vision for connectivity, taking previous efforts into account.
• Design broadband network options: Conduct a detailed technical and financial analysis of options for building reliable, high-speed internet infrastructure tailored to the geography and needs of Pinos Altos.
• Assess digital adoption and skills barriers: Evaluate access to devices, digital skills training, and affordability barriers, and design community-informed strategies to address them.
• Develop an implementation plan: Deliver a shovel-ready broadband and digital adoption plan, complete with funding strategies and partnership recommendations to put the plan into action.

This work will be most impactful if it reflects the knowledge, relationships, and ambitions of the community. And so we invite residents, local leaders, and business owners from Pinos Altos and the surrounding region to be part of the process.

Throughout the planning process, we’ll host conversations, interviews, and in-person listening sessions to ensure it properly reflects local needs.

Looking Ahead

The Pinos Altos project is part of a broader effort to ensure that no community is left behind in the digital age. We’re proud to be part of this journey and look forward to working alongside the people of Pinos Altos and Grant County to expand broadband access that supports connection, opportunity, and growth.

To get involved or to learn more, please reach out to project lead Samantha Schartman at samantha@connecthumanity.fund.