[1st-mile-nm] NM Submits Application To Secure Initial Federal Broadband Planning Dollars

[Richard Lowenberg]

New Mexico Submits Application To Secure Initial Broadband Planning 
Dollars,
Lay Groundwork For Historic Federal Internet Expansion

https://ladailypost.com/new-mexico-submits-application-to-secure-initial-broadband-planning-dollars-lay-groundwork-for-historic-federal-internet-expansion

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 24, 2022

SANTA FE –The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) 
submitted its application for initial planning funds through the federal 
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Last month, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a letter of intent to 
the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) 
confirming New Mexico’s interest in the $42.5 billion BEAD program – 
starting with $5 million in planning funds to support the State’s 
year-long work toward a Five-Year Action Plan, required to unlock 
hundreds of millions of dollars in future program funding for broadband 
expansion.

“Standardizing our approach to data collection, engagement, and 
community survey work to align with the federal Broadband Equity, 
Access, and Deployment program will be a key step to ensuring that New 
Mexico makes the most of this historic opportunity for cross-sector 
collaboration and government alignment – state, federal and local,” said 
Office of Broadband Access and Expansion Director Kelly Schlegel. “We 
look forward to launching a collaborative state-led effort that will 
empower our local governments, tribes, schools, and community 
organizations to eliminate the digital divide together – forever.”

This latest milestone was reached on August 15, 2022, when OBAE outlined 
its general approach for increasing equitable access to broadband 
service statewide. The proposed “Connect New Mexico Broadband Equity, 
Access, and Deployment Project” includes the creation of a comprehensive 
Five-Year Action Plan that will identify New Mexico’s broadband access, 
affordability, equity, and adoption needs and serve as a benchmark for 
adopting strategies, goals, and initial measures for connecting all 
residents of New Mexico with reliable broadband service.

To ensure all New Mexicans have access to reliable, affordable, and 
high-speed internet, the Connect New Mexico BEAD Project intends to 
utilize initial planning funds to execute the following seven eligible 
activities:

Research and Data Collection, including broadband access mapping and 
analysis, digital equity metric identification, collection, and 
analysis, and evaluation of best practices within and opportunities for 
aligning digital equity and broadband infrastructure investment and 
activity.

Outreach and Engagement, including establishment of a bi-weekly 
newsletter, support of the Connect New Mexico Council and its working 
groups, and new collaboration with statewide associations representing 
New Mexico municipalities and counties, respectively.

Technical Assistance, including establishment of the statewide Digital 
Navigator Network and Broadband Help Desk programs, as well as creation 
of community planning and capacity building programs for 
infrastructure-specific and comprehensive local engagement.

Increased Capacity, including additional staff and consultant support to 
assist the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion.

Asset Mapping, including identification of broadband and digital equity 
strengths and resources within each of the state’s 32 counties.

Comprehensive Surveys, including – but is not limited to – incorporating 
into all community engagement activity the use a survey instrument 
designed to collect, at the address level, broadband speed test data, 
broadband service satisfaction, and any relevant requests of broadband 
service providers for improved service.

Local Coordination, including intentional and integrated engagement with 
local governments and related stakeholders throughout compilation of the 
Five-Year Action Plan, Initial and Final proposals, and Digital Equity 
Plan.

The BEAD program will distribute available funding on a formula basis to 
all 56 states and territories to expand high-speed internet access by 
funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs 
throughout the country. States have an opportunity to impact the formula 
inputs and thus eventual funding through integrated data collection, 
engagement, and survey work – which makes the initial planning funds and 
activity that follows critically important to realizing the Connect New 
Mexico vision.

Meeting this summer’s milestones will be fundamental to achieving the 
overall New Mexico state plan of collaboration, innovative approaches, 
comprehensive middle mile development, support for alternative 
technologies for hard-to-reach regions, and 100 percent connectivity.


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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
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