Rural libraries across Cochise County now have access to high speed internet through provider Valley Telecom. 

This development was also made possible because of the Cochise County Library District’s use of the E-Rate program. This financial assistance program, which subsidizes internet services in public schools and libraries and is administered by the Federal Communications Commission, paid for 80 percent of the costs. In total, the Library District spent under $5,500.

The computers in libraries in Bowie, Elfrida, Portal, Sunizona, and Sunsites all have high speed connectivity through an extension of fiber connections and new equipment such as routers, cables and firewalls. 

This move is part of the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Plan, which included technology infrastructure as one of its goals to foster economic development. More information about the Cochise County library services can be found here.