Broadband grant awards are usually made for expanded or improved service, but, last week, the New Mexico Office Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) awarded more than $1.25 million in disaster grants to restore high-speed broadband services in Lincoln County for communities hit by wildfires and flooding.
The state’s $117 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation, designed to help with broadband access, will provide Penasco Valley Telephone Cooperative with $1 million and TDS Telecom with $251,300 through the New Mexico Connectivity to Declared Disaster Areas Grants program.
The broadband providers will use their grants to replace and repair broadband infrastructure in Lincoln County, New Mexico, which has been devastated by wildfires and the resulting flooding during the past year.
Under the terms of the Connectivity to Declared Disaster Areas Grants program, awarded funds must be used for repairs and replacement of broadband networks in communities damaged by wildfires, floods, or other disasters declared by the governor between 2022 and 2024.
All projects must deliver service to unserved locations (less than 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload) or to underserved locations (less than 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload).
“The Office of Broadband stands ready to support families and communities recovering from these devastating incidents,” Jeff Lopez, OBAE director, said in a prepared statement about the New Mexico broadband grants. “Replacing and fixing broadband infrastructure is vital to communities as they work to rebuild.”
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.
