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Bringing Connectivity to Your Community
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BROADBAND BULLETIN
June 2024
The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion is dedicated to serving New Mexico with a commitment to make high-speed broadband accessible to all New Mexicans. OBAE’s mission is to expand and improve high-speed internet service with passionate leadership that drives bold, equitable, affordable and inclusive broadband solutions. OBAE works with local, state and federal entities to seek results that honor the state’s rich heritage and elevate quality of life for all.
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From the Director's Chair
During this past month, our work at OBAE has moved at gigabit speeds. June was a good month in that we saw a number of successes as many programs moved forward: we finished the curing process, we're awaiting the approval from the federal government for the BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 and we're preparing for award announcements. We have completed a lot of prep work to move forward. I would like to thank everyone who has played a role in helping us move forward in our pursuit to connect all of New Mexico.
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High-Speed Happenings
New Mexico's Statewide Education Network Goes Live!
Today OBAE’s Statewide Education Network (SEN) became operational, connecting three Albuquerque charter schools and all 27 schools in the Gadsden Independent School District in Santa Teresa. These schools are the first to be linked with their own school-centric high-speed internet.
The new network is optional for schools across the state, but OBAE is excited it will eliminate the internet administrative burden for them. Dozens of other schools have committed to being part of the internal network, and SEN plans to connect all public schools in New Mexico by 2027. The school-centric broadband network will eventually allow schools to share classes, meetings, clubs, and various sites to enhance student learning and to engage students.
A state advisory committee will develop content for the network.
“This is an important milestone for New Mexico education and broadband,” said OBAE Acting Director Drew Lovelace. “This exemplifies how the state is improving education through technology.
“This has been a mammoth undertaking, and we’re very excited that the network is finally operational,” said Ovidiu Viorica, SEN’s Broadband and Technology Manager. “This is an extraordinary achievement that we hope will see productive returns for our children and our state. What’s happening today is a sign that New Mexico is truly looking to the future.”
There will be a ribbon cutting in Albuquerque to celebrate the first connected schools on August 15.
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OBAE Attends Four Corners Broadband Future Conference
OBAE’s Acting Director and several program managers were among broadband experts who addressed the Broadband Future Conference in Farmington last week. The conference served as an opportunity for broadband specialists, nonprofits, ISPs, lawmakers, local and tribal leaders to share information and provide input about broadband expansion in the Four Corners region. During panel sessions OBAE leaders spoke about what’s happening in New Mexico and the importance of planning and implementing broadband to hard-to-reach areas. They discussed broadband strategies, economic opportunities and how the high-speed internet has become a necessity in these challenging times. More than 200 people attended the conference.
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Acting Director Drew Lovelace and Statewide Education Network Broadband and Technology Manager Ovidiu Viorica address attendees at the conference
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OBAE BEAD Coordinator Andrew Wilder discusses the comprehensive and detailed program and its timelines
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OBAE Digital Equity Coordinator Neala Krueger talks about the program and the importance of providing hardware devices, digital training and skills
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Lovelace and Wilder talking broadband strategies with a program coordinator from the Utah Broadband Center
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"Conferences like these are so important to understand the needs of communities and to get the word out. You can find potential partners and learn what is happening in this changing industry. Partnerships are so important too and the opportunities for funding. It's a great way to network and get vital information."
--Teresa Hopkins Alliance for Navajo Broadband and Navajo Nation Digital Equity Team
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Wilder and a conference participant
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OBAE Project Manager Bureau Chief discusses broadband construction with attendees
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Lovelace and Viorica talking about the various ongoing programs in New Mexico
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Federal Lawmakers Fighting to Extend ACP Funding
There's a push in Congress for federal dollars to continue the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
New Mexico U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan is fighting hard to keep funding alive. He's sponsoring a bill, S4317 called the Secure and Affordable Broadband Extension Act. And Vermont U.S. Senator Peter Welch continues to fight for his Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act on Capitol Hill.
All of New Mexico's delegation support ACP and funding to help low income households get internet service.
This month lawmakers refused to appropriate $7 billion to extend ACP. New Mexico's Congressional Delegation supported the extension.
The program helped tens of millions of low-income Americans get online. ACP gave homeowners up to a $30 credit off their internet bills and as much as $75 per month for families on tribal lands.
New Mexicans who used this program are urged to check with their Internet Service Providers to see if their discounts will continue. Customers are encouraged to explore their options including switching their ISP.
OBAE is exploring ways to bridge this gap.
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Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program
BEAD Challenge Process:
Rebuttal Phase ends July 3rd. Challenged entities are encouraged to submit rebuttals as soon as possible so that OBAE has adequate time to review the evidence provided and request revisions if necessary. Challenges against a specific provider are automatically sustained if they are not rebutted. OBAE is providing Office Hours and two contracted Broadband Subject Matter Experts to support entities with the Challenge Process.
Here's the link: BEAD - CONNECT NEW MEXICO (nm.gov)
Draft BEAD Project Area Units (PAUs) Published!
OBAE has published preliminary Project Area Units (PAUs) for the BEAD Program. These are the regions where applicants will bid for BEAD funding.
Click here to see the PAUs!
Ensure the layer "BEAD Draft Project Area Units" is enabled to view the PAUs. A public comment period will follow in the coming weeks.
OBAE will finalize the PAU design after the completion of the public comment period and the BEAD Challenge Process.
If you have trouble accessing the PAUs, please email: broadband@connect.nm.gov.
Project Progress
Crews are busy at work around the state as broadband projects continue. Oso Internet Solutions is making progress on their Pine Meadows fiber project in the Ramah Navajo area. Construction there is underway for fiber.
The Sacred Wind project in Gallup has completed most of its fixed wireless project. At present, Gallup is developing an RFP to build a section of fiber.
The Tularosa Communications project in Dog Ranch is about 58% completed. All approved construction is finished. The remaining 42% will be completed once permitting from BLM is approved. The next phase of this project will begin work in Dog Canyon.
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Registration Open for 2nd Annual ABQNOG in August
Registration is now open for the second annual ABQNOG conference scheduled for August 15, 2024. The all-day event will take place in Albuquerque at the APS Rankin Training Complex located at 720 Rankin Rd NE Albuquerque, NM 87107. This technical conference is centered on broadband and networking and run by networking professionals to help other networking professionals and to share the latest information, updates and best practices on managing and maintaining networks. For more information and to register online visit: http://abqnog.org
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GWEP Grant Program Still Seeking Submissions
OBAE’s Grant Writing, Engineering and Planning program is urging tribal governments, local governments, co-ops, telcos and others to submit for assistance grants. These awards will help entities identify community broadband needs and support applying for other funding sources. GWEP funding goes to supporting broadband infrastructure to unserved areas.
To submit for a grant, click here: https://obae.submittable.com/submit
For more information about GWEP, click here: https://connect.nm.gov/obae-funding.html
OBAE Attends State Tribal Leaders Summit in Farmington
OBAE’s Acting Director and staff members took part in the 2024 State Tribal Leaders Summit last month. Gov. Lujan Grisham met with leadership from 23 Nations, Tribes and Pueblos to address a variety of issues and ways to strengthen bonds. Those included tribal infrastructure funding, economic investment, education, public safety and health care. The summit reflected the state’s commitment to working with tribal communities to enrich lives.
New Mexico Indian Affairs Secretary Josett Monette joins OBAE's Acting Director Drew Lovelace and Tribal Coordinator and Liaison Valerie "Victory" Quintana at the Tribal Leaders Summit in Farmington.
OBAE Provides Information for Tribal Digital Equity Grant at Workshop
OBAE hosted a webinar tribal workshop last month to help prospective grant recipients.
Nearly two dozen people attended the virtual workshop that provided a valuable opportunity for OBAE to walk tribal members through the NTIA Native Entities Digital Equity Capacity Grant process. The grant for Native Entities will open September 25, 2024, and close February 7, 2025.
OBAE will offer Open Office Hours July 19 2pm-3pm so community members can gather more information, share ideas, and ask questions.
Click here to register for the Open Office Hours: Meeting ID: 845 4402 1293 Passcode: 497452
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Acting Director Talks Broadband on KKOB's Bob Clark Show
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Acting Director Drew Lovelace took to the radio airwaves last month, appearing on the Bob Clark morning talk show on KKOB News Radio. Lovelace talked about the need for more New Mexicans to be connected and the various state and federal programs that are available to serve New Mexicans. |
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Watch for Acting Director Lovelace on KNME-TV, New Mexico PBS. Lovelace was interviewed for "New Mexico in Focus" about the broadband industry, OBAE's mission and achievements. The show will air either July 26 or August 2 at 7pm. Stay tuned! |
Acting Director Attends NGA Conference on Broadband
OBAE Acting Director Drew Lovelace attended the National Governors Association’s second Broadband Leaders Workshop held in Overland Park, Kansas last month. The NGA event addressed key broadband issues facing states. Governors, federal officials, industry leaders and stakeholders took part in the workshop. The groups tackled the challenges and strategies of implementing state and federal programs to ensure broadband accessibility and affordability.
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White House National Cyber Director Announces Free Cybersecurity Software for Schools During New Mexico Visit
On May 31 National Cyber Director Harry Coker, Jr. attended a forum in Santa Fe where he met with State agencies and other leaders to address school cybersecurity concerns and to promote ways to protect school digital environments.
Three members of OBAE along with NM Information Technology Acting Secretary Raja Sambandam attended the roundtable.
At the event, Coker announced no-cost tools available to local and intermediate school districts to improve their cybersecurity, particularly Protective Domain Name Service (PDNS), an important and easy-to-use cybersecurity service.
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Upcoming Events
OBAE Will Travel to Clovis & Portales for Cabinet in Your Community Tour
OBAE Acting Director Drew Lovelace and staff members will participate in the Governor’s Cabinet in Your Community event in Clovis and Portales on July 8 and 9. The Governor and cabinet secretaries visit those communities as part of their outreach program to help residents learn about available state and federal resources. Cabinet members and other state leaders will help people connect with various services to get the support they need. Those include Medicaid, unemployment benefits, career counseling, and more.
The event begins in Clovis with a resource expo in the Commons Building at Clovis Community College, 417 Schepps Blvd., on Monday, July 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. There will also be a community town hall at the Dr. Jay Gurley Town Hall building from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
On Tuesday, July 9, cabinet secretaries will host an event at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. A resource expo will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Campus Union Building Ballroom. There will also be a community town hall at the University Theatre Center from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
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Bits & Bytes
NTIA data show 13 million more internet users in the U.S. in 2023 than 2021.
Just 12 percent of people lived in households without any Internet connection in 2023, compared with 14 percent in 2021.
Nearly 900 miles of fiber has been delivered as part of the New Mexico's Statewide Education Network initiative.
The federal government has invested more than $100 million for New Mexico's SEN.
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OBAE Contact Information:
If you have any questions or comments for OBAE please email them to:
Broadband@connect.nm.gov
Or you can call OBAE at: (505) 690-2128
Connect with us on Facebook
OBAE Team:
Connect NM Pilot Program ARPA Coordinator Angelo Jaramillo
Grant Programs and Compliance Manager (GWEP) Lee Gagnon
Mapping--Geospatial Information Officer Natalie Runyan
Project Manager Bureau Chief Richard Govea
Statewide Education Network Broadband and Technology Manager Ovidiu Viorica
Public Relations Coordinator Mike Curtis
Sincerely,
Drew Lovelace Acting Director New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion
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If you have questions about any of these opportunities, please contact us via email at Broadband@doit.nm.gov.
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Office of Broadband Access and Expansion | 715 Alta Vista St, Santa Fe, NM 87505
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