En el coraz\u00f3n de Nuevo M\u00e9xico y a lo largo de la frontera entre Texas y Oklahoma, dos peque\u00f1as bibliotecas rurales est\u00e1n reescribiendo la historia de la equidad digital. Con una infraestructura de banda ancha limitada y unas necesidades comunitarias crecientes, la Biblioteca P\u00fablica de Bel\u00e9n en Nuevo M\u00e9xico y la Biblioteca del \u00c1rea de Pottsboro en Texas encontraron un socio transformador en Mission Telecom.<\/p>\n
Gracias a su colaboraci\u00f3n, las bibliotecas ahora pueden ofrecer programas flexibles de pr\u00e9stamo de puntos de acceso, lo que refuerza el papel de ambas bibliotecas como vitales l\u00edneas de vida digitales que ofrecen acceso a Internet, servicios de alfabetizaci\u00f3n y conectividad de emergencia donde antes no exist\u00eda.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“Without reliable internet, it’s hard to file taxes, apply for jobs, talk to your doctor, or help your children with schoolwork.”<\/h3>– Kathleen Pickering
\nDirector, Biblioteca P\u00fablica de Bel\u00e9n y Sucursal del Museo Harvey House\n\t\t\t\t“We’re not just giving out devices; we’re giving people access to their future.”<\/h3>– Renee Nichols
\nDirector, Biblioteca de Pottsboro\n\t\t\t\t“The switch from Verizon to Mission Telecom improved service and saved us money.”<\/h3>– Renee Nichols
\nDirector, Biblioteca de Pottsboro\n\t\t\t\t“The hotspots were a game-changer. And now we’re prepared for snowstorms, windstorms, power outages, anything.”<\/h3>– Renee Nichols
\nDirector, Biblioteca de Pottsboro\n\tDatos clave<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\tSiempre en demanda\t<\/h3>\n\t
\nDirector, Biblioteca de Pottsboro\n\t\t\t\t
“The switch from Verizon to Mission Telecom improved service and saved us money.”<\/h3>– Renee Nichols
\nDirector, Biblioteca de Pottsboro\n\t\t\t\t“The hotspots were a game-changer. And now we’re prepared for snowstorms, windstorms, power outages, anything.”<\/h3>– Renee Nichols
\nDirector, Biblioteca de Pottsboro\n\tDatos clave<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\tSiempre en demanda\t<\/h3>\n\t
\nDirector, Biblioteca de Pottsboro\n\t
Datos clave<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\tSiempre en demanda\t<\/h3>\n\t
El 5G asequible mantiene los dispositivos en constante circulaci\u00f3n, lo que refleja la gran necesidad de la comunidad.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tLa conectividad genera oportunidades\t<\/h3>\n\t
Desde la ense\u00f1anza del ingl\u00e9s como segunda lengua y la educaci\u00f3n para adultos hasta las solicitudes de empleo, la telesalud y las emergencias, contar con una conexi\u00f3n a Internet confiable es fundamental para participar plenamente en la sociedad.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tPlanes flexibles y sin complicaciones\t<\/h3>\n\t
Programs were tailored to rural libraries’ budgets with dedicated support, easy setup, and no red tape.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tCreado para la inclusi\u00f3n digital\t<\/h3>\n\t
Hotspots power more than connection, they’re part of a broader strategy to bridge gaps and uplift communities.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tGenerando confianza y acceso, un punto de acceso a la vez\t<\/h2>\n\tFor Kathleen Pickering, director of the Belen Public Library and Harvey House Museum Branch, the pandemic made one thing crystal clear: broadband is no longer a luxury. Located 35 miles south of Albuquerque, Belen is a town of 7,300 people, but the library serves all of Valencia County-more than 45,000 residents-many of whom live in areas with no access to \ufb01ber or stable internet.
\n
\n“We started our hotspot program during COVID,” says Pickering. “We received a grant through the Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Connectivity Fund and piloted a small lending project. Demand was constant, but the funding didn’t last.”
\n
\nPor aquella \u00e9poca, asisti\u00f3 a una reuni\u00f3n de la Biblioteca Estatal de Nuevo M\u00e9xico y conoci\u00f3 a personas del Distrito Escolar de Albuquerque que trabajaban con Mission Telecom.
\n
\nEsa presentaci\u00f3n lo cambi\u00f3 todo.
\n
\nMission Telecom proporcion\u00f3 a la biblioteca 10 puntos de acceso con capacidad 5G y ofreci\u00f3 precios E-Rate incluso antes de la aprobaci\u00f3n federal. Los dispositivos ahora est\u00e1n en uso constante, con una lista de espera que dice mucho sobre las necesidades de la comunidad.\n\n\t\t\tLa conectividad puede ser un salvavidas\t<\/h2>\n\tThe impact extends far beyond individual households. Through a partnership with the Valencia County Literacy Council-an organization founded by a library director in the 1980s-Belen expanded the hotspot program to adult learners. The council, which supports roughly 100 students countywide, uses four additional hotspots for basic adult education, ESL, digital and \ufb01nancial literacy, and citizenship preparation.
\n
\n“We’re gearing up to add health literacy,” says Pickering. “Without reliable internet, it’s hard to \ufb01le taxes, apply for jobs, talk to your doctor, or help your children with schoolwork.”
\n
\nPickering recently discovered a new audience of home-based entrepreneurs and microenterprises, including food truck owners, artists, and other creators. “It’s another community that uses our broadband, devices, and hotspots to get work done,” she says.
\n
\nFrom day one, Belen tracked hotspot usage through surveys, offering valuable data back to Mission Telecom. “It is such a partnership,” she says. “They were committed to supporting libraries, and we helped guide that. The switch from Verizon to Mission Telecom improved service and saved us money.” Today, the library is more than a place to borrow books. It’s a telehealth hub, a center for adult education, and part of a broader “library of things” movement. From yard carts to car repair kits, Belen is leaning into the idea that libraries can circulate much more than media. Community trust, built through programs like hotspot lending, makes it all possible.\n\tMeeting Digital Needs with Creativity and Grit<\/h2>\n\tOver 700 miles east, in the small Texas town of Pottsboro, another rural library director was facing similar challenges. Renee Nichols took over the Pottsboro Area Library a little over a year ago. Her community, nestled near Lake Texoma and home to 2,400 residents, experiences frequent internet outages due to weather, infrastructure issues, and power loss. “When the internet goes down, half the town is stuck,” says Nichols. The library had started a grant-funded hotspot lending program, but devices weren’t always returned on time-or at all. The program quietly died when funding ran out.
\n
\nDecidido a volver a intentarlo, Nichols solicit\u00f3 una subvenci\u00f3n de la Alianza Nacional para la Inclusi\u00f3n Digital (NDIA), financiada por Google, que permiti\u00f3 a la biblioteca servir como centro de navegaci\u00f3n digital y proporcionar asistencia tecnol\u00f3gica gratuita a las personas de la comunidad y del condado. Tambi\u00e9n organizaron clases de tecnolog\u00eda y pusieron a disposici\u00f3n dispositivos para su uso en la biblioteca y para su pr\u00e9stamo.\n\n\t\t\tLos puntos de acceso son solo el principio\t<\/h2>\n\tMission Telecom sent the library two hotspots to test. “We took them camping, loaned them to Board members, and everyone said that they worked great,” says Nichols. She used some of the NDIA grant funds and Mission Telecom worked with her to build a program that \ufb01t the library’s budget. “Matt at Mission Telecom was so helpful. He provided me with different scenarios and potential offerings so we’d know what to buy,” says Nichols.
\n
\nToday, Pottsboro lends 10 hotspots through its popular Library of Things, which also includes tools, electronics, and household gadgets. Devices are loaned for seven days, with the option to renew if demand allows. “The intention is not for people to get free internet forever,” says Nichols. “The hotspots are for people who have a temporary internet outage and need to apply for a job, do schoolwork, or handle an emergency.”
\n
\nThat need became especially clear when the town’s main internet provider’s line was severed, cutting service to half of the community-including the library! The library distributed hotspots, keeping families, local businesses, and students connected. “It was a game-changer. And now we’re prepared for snowstorms, windstorms, power outages, anything,” says Nichols. Pottsboro has no community center or medical facility, but the library now \ufb01lls that void. It created a telehealth room, and in the coming months will open a small AI lab for local workforce training. “The hotspot program aligns with everything we’re doing. We’re half books, half technology-and always looking ahead.”\n\n\t\t\tUn nuevo tipo de infraestructura\t<\/h2>\n\t
\n
\n“We’re gearing up to add health literacy,” says Pickering. “Without reliable internet, it’s hard to \ufb01le taxes, apply for jobs, talk to your doctor, or help your children with schoolwork.”
\n
\nPickering recently discovered a new audience of home-based entrepreneurs and microenterprises, including food truck owners, artists, and other creators. “It’s another community that uses our broadband, devices, and hotspots to get work done,” she says.
\n
\nFrom day one, Belen tracked hotspot usage through surveys, offering valuable data back to Mission Telecom. “It is such a partnership,” she says. “They were committed to supporting libraries, and we helped guide that. The switch from Verizon to Mission Telecom improved service and saved us money.” Today, the library is more than a place to borrow books. It’s a telehealth hub, a center for adult education, and part of a broader “library of things” movement. From yard carts to car repair kits, Belen is leaning into the idea that libraries can circulate much more than media. Community trust, built through programs like hotspot lending, makes it all possible.\n\t
Meeting Digital Needs with Creativity and Grit<\/h2>\n\tOver 700 miles east, in the small Texas town of Pottsboro, another rural library director was facing similar challenges. Renee Nichols took over the Pottsboro Area Library a little over a year ago. Her community, nestled near Lake Texoma and home to 2,400 residents, experiences frequent internet outages due to weather, infrastructure issues, and power loss. “When the internet goes down, half the town is stuck,” says Nichols. The library had started a grant-funded hotspot lending program, but devices weren’t always returned on time-or at all. The program quietly died when funding ran out.
\n
\nDecidido a volver a intentarlo, Nichols solicit\u00f3 una subvenci\u00f3n de la Alianza Nacional para la Inclusi\u00f3n Digital (NDIA), financiada por Google, que permiti\u00f3 a la biblioteca servir como centro de navegaci\u00f3n digital y proporcionar asistencia tecnol\u00f3gica gratuita a las personas de la comunidad y del condado. Tambi\u00e9n organizaron clases de tecnolog\u00eda y pusieron a disposici\u00f3n dispositivos para su uso en la biblioteca y para su pr\u00e9stamo.\n\n\t\t\tLos puntos de acceso son solo el principio\t<\/h2>\n\tMission Telecom sent the library two hotspots to test. “We took them camping, loaned them to Board members, and everyone said that they worked great,” says Nichols. She used some of the NDIA grant funds and Mission Telecom worked with her to build a program that \ufb01t the library’s budget. “Matt at Mission Telecom was so helpful. He provided me with different scenarios and potential offerings so we’d know what to buy,” says Nichols.
\n
\nToday, Pottsboro lends 10 hotspots through its popular Library of Things, which also includes tools, electronics, and household gadgets. Devices are loaned for seven days, with the option to renew if demand allows. “The intention is not for people to get free internet forever,” says Nichols. “The hotspots are for people who have a temporary internet outage and need to apply for a job, do schoolwork, or handle an emergency.”
\n
\nThat need became especially clear when the town’s main internet provider’s line was severed, cutting service to half of the community-including the library! The library distributed hotspots, keeping families, local businesses, and students connected. “It was a game-changer. And now we’re prepared for snowstorms, windstorms, power outages, anything,” says Nichols. Pottsboro has no community center or medical facility, but the library now \ufb01lls that void. It created a telehealth room, and in the coming months will open a small AI lab for local workforce training. “The hotspot program aligns with everything we’re doing. We’re half books, half technology-and always looking ahead.”\n\n\t\t\tUn nuevo tipo de infraestructura\t<\/h2>\n\t
\n
\nToday, Pottsboro lends 10 hotspots through its popular Library of Things, which also includes tools, electronics, and household gadgets. Devices are loaned for seven days, with the option to renew if demand allows. “The intention is not for people to get free internet forever,” says Nichols. “The hotspots are for people who have a temporary internet outage and need to apply for a job, do schoolwork, or handle an emergency.”
\n
\nThat need became especially clear when the town’s main internet provider’s line was severed, cutting service to half of the community-including the library! The library distributed hotspots, keeping families, local businesses, and students connected. “It was a game-changer. And now we’re prepared for snowstorms, windstorms, power outages, anything,” says Nichols. Pottsboro has no community center or medical facility, but the library now \ufb01lls that void. It created a telehealth room, and in the coming months will open a small AI lab for local workforce training. “The hotspot program aligns with everything we’re doing. We’re half books, half technology-and always looking ahead.”\n
\n\t\t\tUn nuevo tipo de infraestructura\t<\/h2>\n\t
Ambos directores destacan el apoyo incondicional que recibieron de Mission Telecom, con precios flexibles, resoluci\u00f3n r\u00e1pida de problemas y ayuda para elegir los dispositivos 4G\/5G perfectos. Pero lo que m\u00e1s destac\u00f3 fue el cambio de mentalidad que se produjo a continuaci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n
“Internet used to be seen as a luxury, but it’s not,” says Pickering. “Most government services, jobs, and schools rely on it, and hotspots have magni\ufb01ed internet accessibility for us tenfold.”<\/p>\n
Nichols agrees, saying, “We’re not just giving out devices; we’re giving people access to their future.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t![\"Rectangle](\"https:\/\/missiontelecom.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rectangle-164.png\" "\\"Rect\u00e1ngulo")
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CASE STUDY How Two Rural Libraries Transformed Access With Mission Telecom Problem Rural libraries in New Mexico and Texas struggled to provide reliable internet access due to limited infrastructure and unsustainable hotspot programs. Solution By partnering with Mission Telecom, both libraries launched flexible, community-tailored hotspot lending programs using affordable, reliable 5G devices. Result Thriving programs…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6506","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n