What’s described as a massive fiber broadband project is set to get underway in New Mexico after state officials signed their first BEAD agreement with Kit Carson Electric Cooperative.
The federal government’s $42.45 billion broadband build has been long awaited in New Mexico, which was allocated $675 million for the program by Congress in 2023.
“This is huge breakthrough in our years-long quest to use BEAD funding to steer New Mexico toward 100% connectivity,” said Jeff Lopez, director of the state’s broadband office.
Nearly 4,000 locations will eventually gain access to fiber broadband thanks to the project, the office announced October 14.
Locations in Colfax, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Taos counties will be included within the scope of the project, the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) said.
With the project, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative will contribute $12 million in matching funds. The grant amount totals $26,988,097, the OBAE said in their Friday release.
“Hundreds of millions of dollars are being invested in our state to ensure every New Mexico family receives high-speed, safe and secure broadband,” Lopez also said, via the release.
1,035 miles of fiber
In total, the project will build 931 miles of aerial fiber and 104 miles of buried fiber, according to the office.
“Before shovels hit the ground, Kit Carson must complete a series of prerequisites, including environmental reviews, permitting, Tribal and historic certifications and site preparations,” OBAE’s release explained. “Kit Carson will engage with communities throughout the project to raise awareness and foster adoption. OBAE will be monitoring the deployment which is expected to be finished in 2030.”
Work associated with the project will reach a wide range of Northern New Mexico communities, including Chama Valley, Chimayo, Cuba, Cimarron, Eagle Nest, Peñasco, Española, Questa, Taos, Red River, and Velarde.
Learn more about BEAD projects, progress, and outcomes at Broadband Communities Summit 2027, now co-located with Connected America.
The event is a marketplace for innovation, policy, and strategic partnerships, covering everything from network buildouts and property integration to smart cities, rural connectivity, and digital infrastructure.
Source: https://bbcmag.com/new-mexico-gets-rolling-with-first-signed-bead-agreement/
