The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) has released program details for the fourth wave of the Connect New Mexico Pilot Program, according to the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC).
The award, which is for $1.251 million, focuses on connectivity to geographic areas that had been declared disaster areas between 2022 and last year and eligible underserved broadband serviceable locations (BSL) in those areas. These New Mexico broadband awards were authorized under NM House Bill 2.
The selection criteria for the program, which has a 25% matching requirement, include:
Speed to deployment: Up to 36 points
- 36 points for ≤ 6 months
- 30 points for 7 to 8 months
- 24 points for 9 to 10 months
- 18 points for 11 to 12 months
- 12 points for 13 to 14 months
- 6 points for 15 to 16 months
- 0 points for 17 to 18 months
Community support: Up to 16 points
Matching contribution degree: Up to 16 points
- 16 points for 45% or greater
- 14 points for 42.5% – 44.9%
- 12 points for 40% – 42.49%
- 10 points for 37.5% – 39.9%
- 8 points for 35% – 37.49%
- 6 points for 32.50% – 34.9%
- 4 points for 30% – 32.49%
- 2 points for 27.5% – 29.9%
- 0 points below 27.5%
Cost efficiency: Up to 16 points
Comprehensive community impact: Up to 16 points
The key dates for these New Mexico broadband grants:
- January 27: Issuance of NOFO, scoring guide, and application
- January 27 to March 21: Application submission window
- March 24 to April 4: OBAE reviews and scores applications
- April 7 to April 16: Possible request to applicants to provide supplemental information
- Early to mid-May: Provisional awardees contacted
- End of May: Awardees sign grant award agreement
- End of June: Awardee start grant-funded activities and incur expenses
- December 31, 2026: Project must be completed and all grant and match funds be expended
Early last month, New Mexico announced the criteria and deadlines for its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program allotment of $675 million.
NRTC owns Pivot Group, which publishes Telecompetitor.
