CONNECT NM News:
SANTA FE — Today, the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) announced that 18 entities have submitted a total of 66 applications for $675 million in New Mexico grants through the federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.
Entities competing for BEAD funding include 10 internet service providers, five cooperatives and three Tribal communities. Sixteen of those applied for projects in more than one location.
The total amount requested is more than $719 million. OBAE will review applications and award grants from the $675 allocated by the federal government.
The applications targeted 144 unserved “project areas” in 31 New Mexico counties for connectivity via terrestrial technology. BEAD funding is expected to provide high-speed broadband to more than 31,000 unserved homes, businesses, farms and other locations across the state.
“We are very excited by the number of applications and qualified candidates for this massive broadband infrastructure program,” Drew Lovelace, acting director of OBAE said. “This monumental program will help close the digital divide in our state, providing high-speed connectivity for broadband-dry households and communities. These projects will change lives.”
OBAE will recommend the grant awards to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) by the end of July. Once the federal government approves the suggested projects, construction will begin. All projects must be completed within four years.
Both NTIA and OBAE must approve the 66 BEAD applications.
The 18 entities have applied for:
- 53 full-fiber projects
- 12 fixed wireless projects
- One low earth orbit satellite project
The 66 applications included:
- Total funding requested: $719,075,257
- Total matching funds proposed: $258,179,539
- Total proposed budgets: $976,167,932
“I am grateful for the hard work our broadband team has put into this tremendous effort and want to thank all the stakeholders that applied for these important projects,” Lovelace said.
In 2023 NTIA allocated $675 million to the state to award grants for broadband infrastructure deployment.
Local governments, Tribal communities, nonprofits, internet service providers, cooperatives and other entities were eligible to apply for BEAD funding.
Before the BEAD application process could begin, NTIA had to approve OBAE’s broadband infrastructure proposals, request for planning funds application, project challenge processes, project rebuttals, a Final Proposal and other federal requirements.
All BEAD applicants had to submit Prequalification Applications to apply for funding. Those results helped OBAE determine whether an entity had the technical capability and financial stability to deploy broadband and meet federal and state requirements.
New Mexico was one of the first states to begin accepting BEAD applications.
“These projects are a huge undertaking and may take time, but OBAE wants broadband built quickly and efficiently. Connecting New Mexican homes and businesses is our top priority,” said Andrew Wilder, BEAD coordinator of OBAE.
The grants are part of the $42.5 billion national BEAD program. NTIA has allocated funding to all 50 states and territories.