New Mexico’s Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) has awarded a $1.5 million grant to Transworld Network LLC to provide broadband to 484 unserved or underserved rural students and faculty of the Silver Consolidated School District, which serves the students of Silver City.
The funding is part of the $25 million Student Connect program. It will be used to construct towers and provide fixed wireless services and receivers to program recipients.
“This project will change lives for nearly 500 Grant County students who lack access to the internet at home,” OBAE Director Jeff Lopez said in a press release. “Student Connect ensures that rural students are able to fully participate in the classroom, whether they are at school or doing homework. This is one important part to ensure every student has the resources to succeed.”
The Student Connect broadband program was established by the New Mexico Legislature in 2021 through the Connect New Mexico Act. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2026.
The OBAE made news twice during the first week of May.
On May 5, the state relocated its Statewide Education Network (SEN) to the OBAE. The goal was to improve internet access for students and rural communities. The move became official when New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham signed the bipartisan Broadband for Education Bill. SB 401 moves all SEN staff, funds, projects and operations from the Public School Facilities Authority (PSFA) to the OBAE.
The first news under the new structure was almost immediate. Santa Fe-based NM Surf was awarded a $2,395,072 grant to deploy broadband access to connect 250 rural New Mexico schools and their staffs. Those connected will get three years of complimentary service.
Additional information about New Mexico broadband, including links to state funding resources, previous awards made, state specific Telecompetitor coverage, BEAD news, and more can be found on the Telecompetitor Broadband Nation webpage for the state.
