New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

This afternoon, the Senate passed SB 401, the Broadband for Education bill, by a vote of 23 to 6. The Broadband for Education bill would transfer the Statewide Education Network (SEN) from the Public School Facilities Authority (PSFA) to the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE). The legislation would move all SEN staff, funds, projects and operations to the state’s broadband office. SB 401 will make SEN run more efficiently, and such a transfer will allow for better broadband resiliency. “Today’s Senate passage of SB 401 signifies another step toward ensuring that all our students have high quality broadband and schools receive support to go after federal funds,” said Drew Lovelace, acting director of OBAE. “This legislation will also help leverage more school-related broadband programs and, in turn, surrounding communities will benefit with improved connectivity in rural parts of the state. We look forward to SB 401 advancing in the House.” SEN is currently run by OBAE, so the transfer will be seamless, and the move also provides OBAE with autonomy. PSFA also supports the bill. SEN launched its broadband infrastructure program last July, connecting dozens of schools through a school-centric broadband network. The network will allow students and teachers to share classes, resources and educational and social services. SEN plans to connect all New Mexico schools through this bold, high-tech program by 2027. Passage of SB 401 will also allow for more middle mile broadband for SEN, something that will benefit broadband providers, schools and students. SEN middle mile could also be used in communications emergencies statewide. The legislation, which has bipartisan support, will now be assigned to a House committee. The sponsors of SB 401 are Sen. Michael Padilla, Senate Majority Whip, Sen. Nicole Tobiassen, Rep. Debra Sarinana, Rep. Tara Lujan and Rep. Joy Garratt.

Friday, March 21, is the last day you can apply for the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion's PINON grant. To apply and to get more information on the grant, click here: https://lnkd.in/gqUY_pc6 The?Promoting Internet Needs of New Mexicans?(PINON)?Grant is a Digital Equity grant designed to foster the belief that everyone should have access to the internet, devices, digital training and skills to participate in today’s ever-changing technological world. The PINON grants range from $25,000 to $500,000 to support subgrantees in enhancing their digital equity programs. OBAE plans to award more than $7.3 million through these grants. Eligible entities that may apply for PINON grants include: Municipal, county, and regional governments Tribal governments and Tribal-led entities Community-based organizations, non-profits, and foundations Higher education institutions State agencies and institutions The PINON grants may only be used toward digital inclusion activities. They include digital skills activities, digital navigator activities, device distribution activities, technical support, and capacity-building. To receive an award, subgrantees must engage individuals from one or more of eight covered populations identified in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. These include: Households with incomes below 150% of the poverty line Seniors Veterans Individuals with disabilities Individuals facing language barriers Members of racial and ethnic minority groups Residents who live in rural areas Incarcerated individuals More than 90% of New Mexicans are included in one or more of these categories. Again, the deadline to apply for the PINON grant is Friday, March 21. For additional questions, please contact: Neala Krueger, OBAE's Digital Equity Coordinator at?[email protected]

The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) wants to remind you that?Friday, March 21?is the deadline to apply for the?Connectivity to Declared Disaster Areas grant. For application details and more information, click here: https://lnkd.in/gXk28JKM The infrastructure grants are for broadband deployment to unserved and underserved communities in New Mexico impacted by environmental disasters, including wildfires and floods. The Connectivity to Declared Disaster Areas grant funding is $1.25 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. OBAE will issue these disaster relief grants to foster the deployment of terrestrial-based broadband networks across unserved and underserved locations in those New Mexican communities affected by disasters. Entities eligible for these disaster dollars include Tribal governments, local government units such as municipalities, counties and other political subdivisions, local and state agencies, for-profit and non-profit entities, cooperatives or mutual organizations, and utilities. The broadband infrastructure grants would go to last-mile networks that provide connectivity to unserved and underserved households and businesses. Entities that apply will be required to provide a 25% match, although there may be waivers to allow a lower match depending on circumstances. Grant requests must be at least $250,000. Again, grant applications are due Friday, March 21. Projects must be completed and commercially ready to offer services by December 31, 2026. If you have any questions, please email Mark Jacobs at: [email protected]

Friday is the Deadline for Entities to Apply for?Declared Disaster Areas?Grants The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) wants to remind you that?Friday, March 21?is the deadline to apply for the?Connectivity to Declared Disaster Areas grant. For application details and more information, click here: https://lnkd.in/gXk28JKM The infrastructure grants are for broadband deployment to unserved and underserved communities in New Mexico impacted by environmental disasters, including wildfires and floods. The Connectivity to Declared Disaster Areas grant funding is $1.25 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. OBAE will issue these disaster relief grants to foster the deployment of terrestrial-based broadband networks across unserved and underserved locations in those New Mexican communities affected by disasters. Entities eligible for these disaster dollars include Tribal governments, local government units such as municipalities, counties and other political subdivisions, local and state agencies, for-profit and non-profit entities, cooperatives or mutual organizations, and utilities. The broadband infrastructure grants would go to last-mile networks that provide connectivity to unserved and underserved households and businesses.? Entities that apply will be required to provide a 25% match, although there may be waivers to allow a lower match depending on circumstances. Grant requests must be at least $250,000. Again, grant applications are due Friday, March 21. Projects must be completed and commercially ready to offer services by December 31, 2026. If you have any questions, please email Mark Jacobs at: [email protected]

This morning, the Senate Finance Committee cleared SB 401, the Broadband for Education Bill. The legislation would transfer the Statewide Education Network (SEN) from the Public School Facilities Authority (PSFA) to the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE). Click below to see why this is important and how it will make a difference for New Mexico schools. https://lnkd.in/gQgnbXkr

PRESS RELEASE: State approves $200,000 in broadband grants to county government and Tribal community Today, OBAE announced that it has issued $200,000 in state broadband grants to two entities for planning, engineering and grant writing to help them build infrastructure and deploy high-speed internet. Otero County government and the Pueblo of Isleta in Bernalillo County will each receive a maximum grant of $100,000 through the state’s Grant Writing, Engineering and Planning Program (GWEP). These grants are used for broadband deployment planning, but may also go toward attaining other funds, such as those available under the federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The state allocated $5 million to the GWEP program to help Tribes, local governments and cooperatives get grants to help them provide broadband to unserved locations. “We are thrilled more entities have applied to this program as they plan and prepare their broadband deployment,” said Eric Rodgers, OBAE project manager. “These awards will expedite critical broadband infrastructure in rural and Tribal areas where reliable high-speed internet access is badly needed. Future connectivity through this funding will be life-changing.” Otero County and the Pueblo of Isleta will use the funding to potentially seek middle mile and last mile broadband construction. All GWEP grant recipients can use the funds for broadband infrastructure, planning services and broadband engineering/design projects. Otero County is seeking broadband expansion and will use its grant for detailed infrastructure planning to guide future investment and construction. The Pueblo of Isleta seeks to expand its high-speed internet. OBAE has now issued 28 GWEP awards, totaling $2.8 million. The recipients include 13 local governments, 12 Tribal communities and three cooperatives. There is still $2.2 million available in GWEP grants, and OBAE encourages Tribal governments, local governments, rural telephone cooperatives and rural electric cooperatives to submit applications. There are no matching funds required. GWEP awards must be used in the development of infrastructure projects, and internet service providers are not eligible. These grants are not competitive, but assistance grants, aimed at spurring broadband Infrastructure projects. Entities that have already received awards are entitled to receive a second. The maximum amount allowed for each award under this state program is $100,000. To apply for a GWEP grant, visit: https://lnkd.in/gHauYBBy For more information about the state grant program, visit: https://lnkd.in/ggMaTU2H

Today, the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee cleared legislation by a vote of 6-3 that will move the Statewide Education Network (SEN) from the Public School Facilities Authority (PSFA) to the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE). OBAE Acting Director Drew Lovelace, MBA, SHRM-SCP, PHR and Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla testified before the committee to seek legislative approval of SB 401, the Broadband for Education Bill. The legislation calls for SEN staff, funds, projects and all operations to be moved to OBAE. “The SB 401 proposal will make the program run more efficiently. SEN is currently run by OBAE, so the transfer will be seamless, and the move also provides OBAE with autonomy,” said Lovelace. “The transfer will also allow our office to leverage more education programs and allow for resiliency.” SEN launched the program last July, connecting dozens of schools through a school-centric broadband network. The network will allow students and teachers to share classes, resources and educational and social services on their own network. SEN plans to connect all New Mexico schools through this bold, high-tech program by 2027. PSFA already supports this proposal, and such a transfer will have no impact on SEN. Lovelace says such a transfer will allow for more middle mile broadband for SEN, something that will benefit broadband providers, schools and students. SEN middle mile could also be used in communications emergencies statewide. The sponsors of SB 401 are Sen. Michael Padilla, Majority Whip, Rep. Debra Sarinana, Rep. Tara Lujan and Rep. Joy Garratt. The bill now heads to the Senate Finance Committee.

The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) requests public support for Senate Bill 401, legislation that will move the Statewide Education Network (SEN) program from the Public School Facilities Authority (PSFA)-- people, funds, projects--to OBAE. OBAE currently administers SEN for PSFA contractually on a year-to-year basis. SB 401 would transfer the SEN to OBAE for program efficiency. SEN staff, operations, funds and projects are currently run by OBAE, so the transfer will be seamless. OBAE's ownership of SEN will also allow for permanent connectivity solutions for communities. Just last week OBAE and SEN partnered with Ethos Broadband in an agreement that will stop frequent broadband outages in Gallup and McKinley County. SB 401 will ensure similar broadband issues will be fixed. OBAE Acting Director Drew Lovelace will go before the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee tomorrow (Tuesday) at 1:30pm in Room 323 at the Roundhouse. PSFA supports this SEN transfer proposal, and the move will have no impact on SEN. Benefits of the proposed transfer include: Allow for middle mile broadband for SEN. Benefit broadband providers, schools and students. Enable OBAE to leverage other education programs. Allow for broadband resiliency. Enable SEN to use middle mile communications in emergencies across the state. SEN was launched in July, connecting dozens of schools through a school-centric broadband network. The Network will allow students and teachers to share classes, resources and educational and social services on their own network. SEN plans to connect all New Mexico schools through this bold, high-tech program by 2027. The sponsors of SB 401 are Sen. Michael Padilla, Senate Majority Whip, Rep, Debra Sarinana, Rep. Tara Lujan, and Rep. Joy Garratt. Please contact your legislators, local leaders and others in a call to action to support SB 401. Let them know you support the bill! You can find members of the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee here. https://lnkd.in/daVuYFTw... Thank you!

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Happy International Women's Day! Today, we honor all women with gratitude. Our thanks as well to the incredible women across New Mexico who are driving meaningful connectivity and expanding broadband access in our communities. Their dedication to bridging the digital divide ensures that families, businesses, and students—no matter where they live—have the tools they need to succeed in the digital age. From policy leaders to engineers and community advocates, these women are shaping a more connected and empowered New Mexico. Thank you for your innovation, hard work, and commitment to keeping our state online! #WomenOfBroadband #NMConnectivity #BridgingTheDigitalDivide #ThankYou