The group was formed to improve communications within the industry as well as with legislators and the regulatory commission. Our main objective is to help small telephone companies in New Mexico provide excellent telecommunications services at affordable rates. This task is a challenge difficult to achieve considering the vast rural areas that make up our serving areas but easily accomplished due to the commitment the small companies have made in serving their customers.

Who are the participants? The following eleven companies:

• · Baca Valley Telephone Company - Des Moines, New Mexico
• · Century Telephone - Monroe, Louisiana
• · Dell Telephone Cooperative - Dell City, Texas
• · Eastern New Mexico Telephone Cooperative - Clovis, New Mexico
• · La Jicarita Telephone - Mora, New Mexico
• · Navajo Communications/Citizens Communications - Window Rock, Arizona
• · Penasco Valley Telephone Cooperative - Artesia, New Mexico
• · Roosevelt County Rural Telephone Cooperative - Portales, New Mexico
• · Tularosa Basin Telephone Co. - Tularosa, New Mexico
• · Valley Telephone Cooperative/Copper Valley Telephone - Willcox, Arizona
• · Western New Mexico Telephone - Cliff, New Mexico
• · Valor Telcom - Irving, TX

• Together, these eleven rural telephone companies cover approximately 61,108 square miles with approximately 46,532 access lines. Total miles of fiber is approximately 2,500 miles and growing. All eleven companies offer internet service; one offers ISDN; eight companies have ASDL services. The NMECG also employs the services of a full-time lobbyist to oversee actions within the legislature.