<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><br></div><div class="WordSection1"><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><img width="623" height="151" id="Picture_x0020_1" alt="cid:image001.jpg@01CB3D61.8EF90E80" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CB3D62.C29F9A00"><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: <b>Monday, August 16, 2010</b></span><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><b><u><span style="font-size: 20pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none; "> </span></o:p></span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><b><u><span style="font-size: 20pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Udall, Bingaman Host NM Broadband Summit<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><b><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Event Features Announcement of $73 Million in Grants, Loans to Connect NM<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">today co-hosted a <i>New Mexico Broadband & Smart Grid Summit</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> in Moriarty that featured the announcement of more than $73 million in grants and awards to expand broadband services to rural, underserved areas of New Mexico.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">More than 300 people attended the summit at the Moriarty Civic Center, which included panel sessions featuring experts on the challenges and opportunities facing New Mexico as it works to overcome the digital divide and harness broadband technologies to promote economic growth, energy independence and health care delivery. Udall led the first panel session, titled “Wiring New Mexico for the Future;” while Bingaman led the second panel, titled “Bringing Broadband to Energy – Smart Grid in New Mexico.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Jonathan Adelstein, administrator of the Rural Electricity Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), also gave a keynote address in which he announced $63.8 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for a broadband infrastructure project that will deliver affordable broadband service to 29 communities in rural, underserved areas of Taos, Colfax and Rio Arriba counties. Kit Carson Electric Cooperative will receive a $44 million grant and a $19 million loan – for a total of $63.8 million – to create the 2,400-mile broadband network, which will connect approximately 20,500 households, 3,600 businesses, 183 critical community institutions and two Native American Pueblos.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Also at the summit, the Commerce Department’s National </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Telecommunications and Information Administration</span><span class="EmailStyle20" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "></span></span><span class="EmailStyle20" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: windowtext; ">Deputy Administrator Anna M. Gomez announced</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "> a separate, $10.6 million ARRA grant to the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District’s REDI Net project, which will make high-quality broadband services more affordable and accessible to residents, businesses, and public institutions in Rio Arriba and Los Alamos counties, northern Santa Fe, and five Native American tribal communities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">“Today was a big day for New Mexico,” <b>Udall</b> said. “Not only did we bring experts from across the spectrum together to discuss the challenges our state faces in bridging the digital divide, but we also took an important step forward in connecting our rural areas with the announcement of more than $73 million in grants and loans. Broadband creates jobs. Broadband connects communities. That’s what this summit is about today.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">"New Mexico is poised to be a leader in expanding broadband access and the use of ‘smart grid’ technology to reduce consumers' utility bills, and I believe the summit will help make that a reality," <b>Bingaman</b> said. "The grants announced today show that the federal government can be a very important partner in meeting our state's broadband and smart grid needs."</span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Congressman Ben Ray Luján also lauded today's recovery announcement for expanded broadband into the northern area of his district.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">“I am proud to see Recovery funds supporting much-needed broadband in Northern New Mexico. I commend REDI Net for investing in our communities and connecting our families and small businesses to the world,”<b>Luján</b> said.</span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><br>Panelists for Udall’s discussion of “Wiring New Mexico for the Future”</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "> included: Dr. Dale Alverson, Director of the Center for Telehealth and Cybermedicine Research at the University of New Mexico; John Badal, Chief Executive Officer of Sacred Wind Communications; Sharon Gillett, Wireline Competition Bureau Chief for the Federal Communications Commission; Dr. Susan Oberlander, State Librarian, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, and Jessica Zufolo, Deputy Administrator, Rural Utility Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.</span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Panelists for Bingaman’s discussion of <span class="apple-converted-space">“Bringing Broadband to Energy – Smart Grid in New Mexico” included: Dr. Tom Bowles, Science Advisor for Governor Bill Richardson; Suedeen Kelly, Partner at Patton Boggs LLP; Eric Lightner, Director of the Federal Smart Grid Task Force at the U.S. Department of Energy; Dr. Daniel L</span>ó<span class="apple-converted-space">pez, President of New Mexico Tech; Dr. Terry Michalske, Director of Energy and Security Systems at Sandia National Laboratories; and Luis Reyes, Chief Executive Officer of Kit Carson Electric Cooperative.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">#########<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Contacts:</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "> Jude McCartin (Bingaman) 202.224.1804 / Marissa Padilla (Udall) 202.224.6621 / Linda Serrato (Luján) 202.503.8988<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div></div><div apple-content-edited="true"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span> </div><br></body></html>