STATE News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) applied for $33 million in federal broadband funding and supported several complementary applications from New Mexico broadband providers in response to the $1 billion Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Grant Program.

Altogether, New Mexico applicants are seeking over $100 million in federal funding to expand critical “middle mile” broadband infrastructure ahead of historic state and federal investment toward universal “last mile” access to homes and businesses.

“Middle mile broadband infrastructure is like the interstate highway system of the 21st century,” OBAE Director Kelly Schlegel said. “It supports connectivity across our state – and around the country. Robust middle mile broadband infrastructure will accelerate our push for universal broadband connectivity, and it will help us focus available state and federal funds on building out local networks to homes and businesses. We look forward to working closely with our broadband provider community to identify broadband access and infrastructure gaps, to craft collaborative solutions, and to direct resources efficiently and effectively.”

OBAE has been active on the middle mile broadband front, earlier this year issuing a Request For Information (RFI) to take stock of middle mile assets and needs across the state, including among public agencies, private broadband providers, and various stakeholders. A second RFI was issued to coordinate applications for the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Grant Program, for which OBAE offered to applicants, letters of support, and the opportunity to forge compelling cross-sector collaborations.

Last week, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced it received 235 applications seeking over $5.5 billion in federal grant support. The staggering need for middle mile broadband infrastructure investment is both a national and New Mexico reality, with responses to the state’s RFIs confirming the need for strong investment in robust, redundant, and resilient broadband infrastructure along priority corridors throughout New Mexico. 

The Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Grant Program complements the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and Digital Equity program – all of which were made possible through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), otherwise known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

This summer, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the OBAE confirmed New Mexico’s interest in the $42.5 billion BEAD program and complementary $2.75 billion Digital Equity program, with the state submitting separate applications seeking a combined $5,740,534 in initial planning funds support year-long work toward a Five-Year Action Plan, for broadband expansion, and a related State Digital Equity Plan.