New Mexico gets federal approval to pursue more broadband funding

(The Center Square) - New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the state obtained final federal approval to pursue $675 million in federal grant funding to expand the state's broadband access.

“The Biden-Harris administration’s $675 million investment in New Mexico will help transform our digital infrastructure,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement. “This funding empowers New Mexico to bridge the digital divide and create equal opportunities across the state, especially for our rural and tribal communities.”

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved Volume 2 of New Mexico’s initial proposal via the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program.

BEAD is a $42.5 billion state grant program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure law, according to a press release from U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico.

“I am proud to announce a historic investment of $675 million in funding that will help move New Mexico toward 100% connectivity from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” Senator Luján said. “However, the failure to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program threatens to dilute the impact of this funding. It is imperative that we reinstate this vital program. While this funding represents significant progress toward 100% connectivity, there remains an ongoing need for next-generation technology to support rural areas, low-income communities, schools, and libraries.”

The NTIA’s approval lets the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion begin the grant application process. This will include "inviting local governments, tribal communities, non-profits, internet service providers, and electric cooperatives to join forces in this transformative endeavor," the release said.

The state hopes that such grants will help it provide reliable high-speed internet to tens of thousands of New Mexico households that currently lack it.

“The Governor’s office and our team are elated and grateful for the NTIA’s approval,” Drew Lovelace, Acting Director of OBAE, said in the release. “In today’s world, high-speed internet is not a luxury but a necessity. Ensuring access to broadband in rural and hard-to-reach areas means New Mexicans will gain access to essential services like telehealth and distance learning, and communities will enjoy greater economic opportunities.”

The approval requires New Mexico to submit a final proposal within a year. The proposal must explain the subgrantees selected and the funding strategies for providing broadband to underserved and unserved communities. These include communities that lack broadband speeds of at least 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload.

"Once the NTIA approves the final proposal in 2025, the actual construction of broadband infrastructure can commence," the release said.

Currently, 16% of New Mexico’s 873,797 serviceable locations count as unserved or underserved, the release from the state said. Of those locations, 70,609 are unserved entirely.

The state is already working to bring connectivity to these areas through its Connect NM Pilot Program. The program is working to bring high-speed internet to over 45,000 locations statewide.