New Mexico’s Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) has awarded more than $40 million grants from the Connect New Mexico Fund to ISPs, telephone cooperatives, pueblos, and a tribal company for broadband projects.
Some of the seven entities receiving grants will be working on multiple projects.
The $70 million Connect New Mexico Fund is a state-led broadband grant program that was established to expand high-speed internet access and deploy infrastructure to unserved and underserved people (i.e., those without access to a broadband connection with speeds of at least 100 download/20 Mbps upload).
Comcast, which is working on four projects, received the largest grant — a little more than $2.5 million — while Resound Networks, which is working on three projects, received $8.1 million.
Other receiving grants were:
- Valley Telephone Cooperative, $5,682,261
- Penasco Valley Telephone Cooperative, $4,858,602 (2 projects)
- Picuris Pueblo, $4,072,430
- San Ildefonso Services, LLC, $3,474,312
- Isleta Pueblo, $1,554,891.
The funds will go toward will be used for broadband deployment in 16 counties, including the addition of nearly 400 miles of fiber across New Mexico. Construction on these projects will start as awardees complete preliminary work including permitting, right of way access, labor contracts, and supply purchases.
More Connect New Mexico Funds are expected to be awarded soon, though no timetable was announced.
“These state grants signify tremendous progress towards building reliable broadband infrastructure that helps connect communities in rural parts of New Mexico,” said Governor Lujan Grisham. “New Mexicans can rest assured that my administration will remain aggressive about delivering scalable and sustainable high-speed internet to broadband-dry areas of the state.”
For more information about New Mexico broadband expansion, plans, and grants, visit the New Mexico Broadband Nation webpage.
