Broadband Office Name: Connect New Mexico, Office of Broadband Access & Expansion
BEAD Award Amount: $675.4 M
New Mexico Broadband Director: Drew Lovelace
Website: https://connect.nm.gov/
New Mexico BEAD Program Tracker
| State | IP Vol 1 Approved | IP Vol 2 Approved | Challenge Process Submission Closed | Submitted Challenge Results to NTIA | Challenge Process Results Approved by NTIA | 1-Year Subgrantee Selection Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | Yes | No | Yes | No – click for info | N/A | N/A |
New Mexico BEAD Program Information
Key Updates
New Mexico is waiting for approval from NTIA on their Initial Proposal Volume 2.
New Mexico has completed its State BEAD Challenge Process.
They are currently in the Challenge Process Rebuttal Phase, which will last for 30 days. On June 27th, they will start their final determination phase, which will run for another 30 days.
Click here for more Challenge Process information: https://connect.nm.gov/bead.html#bead_challenge
New Mexico BEAD Program Plans & Maps
New Mexico BEAD Program Initial Proposal Volume 2: Overview
*Information is subject to change. New Mexico is awaiting official approval of Initial Proposal Volume 2 from the NTIA.
BEAD Long-Term Objectives
The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) has set the following goals and objectives:
Goal 1: Universal broadband availability
- Objective 1: Provide grant funding to enable broadband deployment.
- Objective 2: Ensure robust data for spatial data management and analytics to maintain broadband maps.
- Objective 3: Remove deployment barriers related to permits, rights-of-way, and pole attachments (PROP).
- Objective 4: Implement a workforce development strategy to support a large, highly skilled broadband workforce across the State.
- Objective 5: Provide technical assistance programs to empower local communities to effectively participate in grant-funding programs.
Goal 2: Broadband adoption and meaningful usage
- Objective 1: Achieve 2023 programmatic requirements for the NTIA-administered Digital Equity Program.
- Objective 2: Support broadband affordability by maximizing participation in the FCC ACP.
- Objective 3: Foster digital equity and inclusion within Tribal communities.
Goal 3: Next-generation statewide networks
- Objective 1: Launch the SEN and support middle-mile expansion through public-private collaboration.
- Objective 2: Expand coverage of mobile broadband and public safety networks.
- Objective 3: Ensure statewide network resiliency and security.
Goal 4: Program stewardship
- Objective 1: Ensure transparency and accountability for OBAE regarding programs, initiatives, and results.
- Objective 2: Foster accountability for grantees regarding all programmatic and compliance requirements.
New Mexico BEAD Program Project Area Design
Project areas will be designated based on a range of factors, including geographic boundaries, the locations of underserved locations and their proximity to unserved locations, existing infrastructure, geographic factors, and potential competition.
New Mexico BEAD Program Extremely High Cost Threshold
OBAE will determine the EHCPLT through a process involving analysis of the full range of grant applications received. OBAE may also consult other data if necessary, including the Eligible Entity Planning Tool provided by NTIA; data developed by OBAE in the course of previous broadband grant programs; and OBAE’s own cost model data, which is based on customized New Mexico cost considerations and a full business case analysis that considers capital costs, operating costs, and revenues over the appropriate time frame.
BEAD Deployment Subgrantee Selection
OBAE is asking for the following preregistration information from subgrantees and compliance with financial capability, managerial capability, operational capability, technical capability, ownership information, project area definition, public funding information, compliance with laws, cybersecurity/supply chain compliance, and BABA compliance.
Primary Criteria for Priority Projects:
- Minimal BEAD Outlay – 150 pts
- Lowest price GigaBit service commitment – 100 pts
- Fair Labor Practices – 50 pts
- Secondary Criteria
- High-cost area – 30 pts
- Low-income households – 29 pts
- Technical capabilities – 20 pts
- Community support – 15 pts
- Aggregation of PAUs – 5 pts
- Speed to deployment – 1 pt
Primary Criteria for Other Last Mile Deployments:
- Minimal BEAD Outlay – 150 pts
- Lowest price 100/20 Mbps – 100 pts
- Fair Labor Practices – 50 pts
- Secondary Criteria
- High-cost area – 30 pts
- Low-income households – 29 pts
- Technical capabilities – 20 pts
- Community support – 15 pts
- Aggregation of PAUs – 5 pts
- Speed to deployment – 1 pt
BEAD Non-Deployment Subgrantee Selection
The State’s estimate to provide universal service exceeds its BEAD allocation, so OBAE does not anticipate having additional funds for other items.
OBAE will consider supporting additional nondeployment activities as consistent with the BEAD NOFO.
BEAD Eligible Entity Implementation Activities
New Mexico’s estimated cost for universal service exceeds its BEAD allocation, the State is not proposing any new initiatives.
However, if New Mexico has funds remaining after funding
all unserved, underserved, and CAI locations, the State will consider funding middle milebroadband fiber broadband projects consistent with its priorities.
Additionally, the State plans to implement key grant activities without issuing a subgrant:
- General administration of the BEAD award
- Oversight of BEAD subgrant applications and issuance
- Other BEAD management processes such as:
- Implementing BEAD implements the challenge process, managing the processes for subgrantee applications and issuance, obtaining software to manage both processes, and overseeing subgrantee compliance.
BEAD Local, Tribe, and Regional Broadband Planning Process
OBAE conducted more than 150 stakeholder engagement sessions in 2022 and over 200 in 2023.
- This includes 1-on-1 meetings with 22 of 23 Pueblos/Tribes/Nations.
OBAE held over 14 listening sessions over 2023. As well, hosted two statewide events, the New Mexico Broadband Day and All New Mexico Broadband Summit.
- Includes Lunch n Learn webinars.
- Conducted surveys which received over 2,400 responses.
OBAE hosts Connect New Mexico council meetings online and in-person. Conducts 1-on-1 engagements with ISPs as well.
Hosts the Connect New Mexico Council every third Wednesday of each month.
OBAE distributed online surveys, printed, and digital promotional materials.
OBAE invested in a Tribal Engagement consultant and hosted a Tribal Working Group every two weeks.
- Has weekly contact with tribal leaders and broadband staff.
- Hosted a data, digital equity, and mapping webinar for Tribal members.
- Supports the development of Pueblo Education Networks (PEN).
OBAE has established clear procedures with relevant representatives and organizations that will work to serve the population of New Mexico.
BEAD Labor Standards & Protection
OBAE requires all subgrantees to submit the following information:
A record of past compliance with federal/employment laws:
- Must address compliance on deployment projects within the last 3 years.
- Certification form from an Officer/Director level employee of past compliance.
- Written confirmation that subgrantee has disclosed any violations from contractors within the last 3 years.
- Current/future practices regarding a direct workforce.
- Discussion of job quality.
- Track record of maintaining high standards in workplace.
- Certification of compliance with workforce protections.
Mandatory for all subgrantees to provide the following information:
- Use of a directly employed workforce or subcontracted?
- Entities the subgrantee plans to subcontract.
- Job titles/size of workforce required to carry out work, wage description, benefits, and applicable wage scales.
- Any in-house training programs.
BEAD Minority Business Enterprises / Women’s Business Enterprises / Labor Surplus Area Firms Inclusion
The US Department of Labor identifies 16 cities, counties, and a balance of county areas in NM as LSAs in 2024.
- There are 18,779 enterprises in in the 13 counties whose area includes the 16 LSAs
OBAE will take the necessary affirmative steps below:
- Place qualified MBEs/WBEs on solicitation lists;
- Ensure that MBEs/WBEs are solicited whenever they are potential sources.
- Dividing total requirements, when economically feasible, into smaller tasks or quantities.
- Establishing delivery schedules, which encourage participation.
- Using the services and assistance of such organizations as the Small Business Administration and the Minority Business Development Agency of the Department of Commerce.
- Subgrantees are required to take the affirmative steps above.
The MBDA offers several recognized programs: American Indian Business Enterprise, Four Winds Diversified Project, New Mexico MBDA Business Center, Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), and the New Mexico Minority Colleges and Universities.
BEAD Cost & Barrier Reduction
OBAE’s Three-Year Plan (2023):
- Composed of three main objectives: Streamlining permits and rights-of-way use agreements, modernizing pole attachment policies/practices, and implementing NMDOT rights of way fee waiver program for in-kind fiber or conduit contribution.
- Connect NM Council has convened a Permits, Rights-of-Way, and Pole Attachments Working Group.
Promoting the use of existing infrastructure:
- Encourage local communities to leverage their poles and conduits.
- Encourage passive infrastructure sharing.
- Explore use of planned middle-mile infrastructure.
- Create online State-hosted middle-mile database and conduct RFI.
Promoting and adapting dig-once policies.
Streamlining permitting processes:
- Establish best practices for county and local permitting.
- Collab with key Dep. of Transportation/environmental agencies.
- Fast-track permit and pre-approved construction methods.
- Shrink federal permitting timelines
- Ease permitting for already disturbed land.
- Address construction costs.
- Address drop costs.
- Address Labor considerations.
- Reduce overhead costs.
- Reduce material costs.
- Connect local and community banks with participants.
BEAD Low-Cost Broadband Service Option
In New Mexico, low-income individuals are 14.5% less likely than higher-income individuals to have a home internet subscription.
90% of NM residents have a home subscription of any kind.
OBAE has conducted several initiatives for promoting ACP. Pueblos have done the same, taking funds from the Tribal Competitive Outreach Program.
As of Sep. 2023, New Mexico does not offer a State subsidy of a similar kind to ACP. This is in the works.
According to the FCC, the current unweighted median price of 100/10 Mbps broadband service in New Mexico is $69 per month, with an overall statewide pricing range of $30 to $89 per month.
OBAE proposes to require all subgrantees to offer a service option that meets the criteria outlined in the BEAD NOFO.
BEAD Middle-Class Affordability Plans
About 48.7% of New Mexico households belong to the middle-class. 66% reported the primary reason they do not subscribe to the internet at home is “don’t need or not interested.”
New Mexico plans to manage middle-class affordability within the context of the BEAD program by addressing the following areas of risk:
- Small, local providers propose low request BEAD support but set high costs.
- Providers shift drop and installation costs to the consumer to recover capital costs.
- Providers refuse to provide service to expensive locations.
- Differential pricing between urban and new project areas.