OBAE News:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexicans are invited to weigh in on a broadband proposal that will determine how hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants are used to expand high-speed internet statewide.

The public is invited to comment on the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion’s (OBAE) Final Proposal to award grants through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The seven-day comment period is the final step before the agency can submit the proposal, which outlines the state’s plan to connect more than 43,000 unserved and underserved locations.  

“Expanding broadband means opening doors to education, health care and opportunity,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “This is how we build a stronger, more connected New Mexico for the future.” 

OBAE has preliminarily approved 32 projects for BEAD funding to 17 entities: 

9 internet service providers and low Earth orbit satellite companies 
5 cooperatives
3 Tribal communities 

The approved BEAD projects span multiple technologies, including 44% of locations served with fiber, 40% of locations served with fixed wireless, and 16% of locations served by low Earth orbit satellite. 

“Our BEAD program will close the digital divide and will ensure thousands of New Mexico families will soon receive high-speed broadband,” Jeff Lopez said, director of OBAE. “Broadband is necessary for all families to receive critical services and information to stay connected and to succeed in our ever-changing world.” 

You can read the draft Final Proposal here. 

Comments may be submitted through the web form found here through 11:59 p.m. MDT, Sept. 2, 2025.

Comments may also be submitted by mail to:

New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion
Attn: BEAD Coordinator
715 Alta Vista
Santa Fe, NM 87505

The Final Proposal represents the culmination of years of work, including extensive stakeholder and Tribal engagement across the state. It also reflects changes as a result of the NTIA’s BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, which required the state to implement new federal guidance and submit its Final Proposal by Sept. 4.  

The NTIA has notified states that it will review and approve all final proposals within 90 days.  

Lopez says OBAE’s goal is to award projects for all of New Mexico by the end of 2026. 

New Mexico received $675 million which represents part of the $42.5 billion BEAD program funding allocated across all 50 states and six territories to connect unserved and underserved locations nationwide.