New Mexico - New Mexico Technology Council

Comcast is Making Internet Access Possible for Low-income New Mexicans

internet access2
Having internet access in the home is essential for many important opportunities, including:

Job research and applications
Health care information
Online educational opportunities for both children and adults
Ease of comparing purchase prices and finding the best deals
Manage finances or research other things that would be a benefit

Low-income households often can’t afford internet access. So, many are left without access to the great resources they can find online.

Internet access for $9.95 a month

To combat the disparity for low-income New Mexicans, six years ago Comcast introduced their Internet Essentials Program (the information is also available in Spanish.) Since the program’s founding, Comcast New Mexico has connected more than 88,000 New Mexicans (in 22,000 households) for $9.95 a month plus tax, most for the first time.
New Mexicans can qualify for the program if they have at least one child who is eligible for the National School Lunch Program, or if they receive HUD housing assistance.
The program also includes an option to purchase an Internet-ready computer for less than $150 and access to free digital literacy training in print, online and in person.

Increased Internet Service Speed

This year, new and existing customers can enjoy increased speeds of up to 15/2 Mbps. This speed is adequate for three devices to stream an HD video at the same time.
Also, participants in the program will receive 40 hours of free WiFi access via Xfinity WiFi hotspots. A hotspot is a wireless connection available outside the home. So, users can take their laptops with them and find a hotspot for internet access. Also, instead of relying on cell data for mobile devices like phones, users can connect to a hotspot.

We’re proud to say that Comcast New Mexico is a partner and member of the NMTC. If you’re interested in becoming a member of NMTC, check out our member page.

Mia Petersen2017-08-22T16:07:26+00:00August 22nd, 2017|

Creating Opportunity with New Additive Manufacturing Peer Group (aka 3D Printing)

Additive Manufacturing Peer Group in New Mexico

Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, refers to the process of continually ‘adding’ materials (like plastics, metal, or glass) in layers to create a three-dimensional object. Whatever you prefer to call it, 3D printing continues to see a boom. This boom will continue as companies realize the cost savings and the flexibility to create a variety of parts and even complete systems. However, as it grows, so is the need to create oversight, education, policies, and research.
To answer that call, the New Mexico Technology Council (NMTC) has once again brought smart tech people together. It’s latest creation is a 3D Printing Peer Group. As President and CEO, Nyika Allen, says “NMTC is always listening to its membership for new events, programming, and feedback. Phoenix Analysis & Design Technologies (PADT) came to us with the idea for the 3D Printing group in New Mexico and we jumped at the chance!”
On June 22, more than twenty individuals attended the first meeting. Attendees included a k-12 teacher from APS, a representative of the City of Albuquerque’s Economic Development Department, inventors, trainers, designers, architects, and mechanical engineers working on space systems.
During the event, Eric R. Miller, principal and co-founder of PADT, spoke about the need for volunteers for a steering committee, and Rey Chu, principal and co-founder of PADT, shared recent news in additive manufacturing. There was also some great discussion about materials. As Rey Chu mentioned, “3D printing is a material driven application, it can only go as far as the materials available. The more we support new materials, the wider application 3D printing will have.”

Creating opportunity and community in 3D printing

There’s a lot going on in the field of 3D printing:

Oversight: For example, anyone could make airplane parts using additive 3D printing, but who will regulate those parts to ensure that they are created to a safe standard?
Education: Developing educational opportunities for younger students as well as those who want to work in the field.
Policies: Policies concerning everything from environmental protections to user safety.
Research: With this budding technology, there is still a lot of room for exploring. New materials are being tested and developed, who will create the next big material to change the future of additive manufacturing?

To encompass as much of that opportunity as possible, the purpose of the committee is to:

Create stronger cooperation between companies, schools, and individuals involved in 3D printing in New Mexico.
Foster cooperation between organizations to increase the benefits of 3D printing to New Mexico.
Make a contribution to New Mexico STEM education in the area of 3D Printing.

Growing benefits of similar groups

PADT is leading a similar group in in Phoenix, Arizona, run by the Arizona Technology Council. It has grown to over a hundred members and they meet once a month. One of the benefits that have come from this group includes an increased accessibility to SBIR grants. This is due to the fact that members have access to a wide variety of experts who are experienced in creating strong proposals.

Meeting every quarter

If you are a user, manufacturer, researcher, or seller of additive manufacturing tech, then consider adding your unique views and input to this group. Meetings will be held once a quarter. Presentations will be limited to an educational or technical presentation that is of interest to the group (i.e. no sales pitches).
Meanwhile, the group is also looking for members to join the steering committee. The steering committee will meet virtually once a month, listen to the overall group’s interests and ideas, and help steer the group to successful and productive meetings.

Gathering support from the community

Tech ideas like the 3Dprinting group and the NMTC, continue to get great support from the Albuquerque community. Rio Bravo Brewing Company supplied space for free in their upstairs meeting room, and PADT supplied beer from Rio Bravo and food from Garcia’s Kitchen.

Getting involved

To keep up to date on the next meetings, sign up for the NMTC newsletter and we’ll let you know when the next one is scheduled.

Mia Petersen2017-06-29T14:31:52+00:00June 29th, 2017|

Optics and Photonics, Essential Technologies for Our Nation

On November 30 I attended a presentation held on the UNM South Campus regarding the status and future of the Optics and Photonics industry. It is vital to many cutting edge technologies, and continuing advances are key to our national security. It also has long had a significant presence in New Mexico.

The NMOptics Website summarizes the talks:

The National Research Council of the National Academies recently produced a report on the future of the optics industry entitled, Optics and Photonics, Essential Technologies for our Nation. The New Mexico Optics Industry Association (nmOptics) and UNM Center for High Technology Materials (CHTM) co-sponsored the Co-chair of the Report Committee, Dr Paul McManamon, who gave an overview presentation on Friday November 30 at UNM. In addition, SPIE sponsored Steve Anderson, Former Editor of Laser Focus World and a photonics industry expert, who presented the economic impact of the Report on the photonics industry. Dr Michael Dougher, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, and John Garcia, Secretary for Economic Development for the City of Albuquerque, spoke on the impact of the Report and the high technology industry for Albuquerque’s future.

The Web Site with the Optics and Photonics Report and other resources is here: www.opticsandphotonics.org

In Doctor McManamon’s presentation, he announced a coordination meeting for the proposed National Photonics Initiative on 28 Feb 2013 at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC. As major corporate research labs (e.g. Bell Labs, Xerox PARC, GE Labs) have been closed or reduced in funding, the Initiative may include a Research Consortium to advance the technology. Major corporations crucially dependent on Optics and Photonics may prefer to fund the Consortium, rather than build their own labs.

See information about the Center for High Technology Materials (one of the presentation’s sponsors) at: http://www.chtm.unm.edu/

For more information about the New Mexico Optics Industry Association (also a member of the “JT8” group of New Mexico’s leading Technology Associations), visit: http://nmoptics.org/

Mia Petersen2012-12-11T13:42:27+00:00December 11th, 2012|