<div>American Rescue Plan funding, administered by the Treasury Department, will fund improved broadband internet access in Tribal communities On March 15, 2024, the Biden Administration announced the approval of $10 million for multi-purpose facilities in Tribal communities under the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vaG9tZS50cmVhc3VyeS5nb3YvcG9saWN5LWlzc3Vlcy9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy9hc3Npc3RhbmNlLWZvci1zdGF0ZS1sb2NhbC1hbmQtdHJpYmFsLWdvdmVybm1lbnRzL2NhcGl0YWwtcHJvamVjdHMtZnVuZCIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyNDAzMDEuOTEwOTg2ODEifQ.dIQ7W9-SospyunJYMtN1C55Qv7Tj_IepqvuOCmPI32w/s/2939116472/br/238044155615-l" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Capital Projects Fund</a> at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New MexicoThe funds will go to New Mexico’s Tribal Library Broadband-Ready Facility Improvement Program, which will construct a new childcare center and improve and expand six libraries and family resource centers within Tribal communities to help ensure Native Americans have access to educational programming, health and career services, and social supports in their communities. Upon completion of the projects, all facilities will provide broadband internet and computers to directly enable work, education, and health monitoring within their communities, currently among the state’s least served in terms of broadband access. New Mexico estimates that the facilities will serve thousands of Tribal community members annually across seven Pueblos, Tribes, and Indian Nations across the state.  “Connecting workers and families to job training, education, and health care is key to expanding economic opportunity,” said Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in a statement. “These resources [will serve] some of the least connected Tribal communities in New Mexico, helping Indian County thrive.” “President Biden signed into law the largest single investment in Indian Country in our history,” said Senior Advisor to the president Gene Sperling, who is also the White House’s Coordinator for the American Rescue Plan. “The Pueblo of Sandia Tribal Council recognizes that studies have shown the shape of a building (particularly a school building) can have an impact on brain development. Many of today’s schools were built 50-60 years ago. These buildings were not designed for change and are very static and linear in design,” said Sandia Pueblo Governor Felix Chaves. “Rather than selecting a traditional linear design…, the Blossom Circular plan was developed to inspire creativity in children who are developing new ways of thinking about their world and are no longer bound by linear patterns of thought.” The Friday announcement is in addition to the $117 million in CPF funding for broadband infrastructure in New Mexico <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1152#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%94%20Today%2C%20the%20U.S.%20Department,Fund%3A%20Colorado%20and%20New%20Mexico." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced in 2022</a>, which the state estimates will connect over 40,000 homes and businesses to affordable, high-speed internet.</div>

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New Mexico Tribal communities receive funding from Treasury Department

<div>The <a href="https://connect.nm.gov/connect-nm-fund.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Connect New Mexico Fund</a> is accepting applications until March 11, 2024, for a $70 million state-led broadband grant program, established by the <a href="https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/21%20Regular/bills/house/HB0010.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Connect Mexico Act of 2021</a>. <a class="embed" href="https://connect.nm.gov/connect-nm-fund.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Connect NM Fund</a>The <a href="https://connect.nm.gov/uploads/1/4/1/9/141989814/nofo_connect_new_mexico_fund_12-12-23_final.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Notice of Funding Opportunity</a> released on December 12, 2023, welcomes last-mile, middle-mile, 5G wireless, and special projects, with a focus on prioritizing fiber-optic wireline for its reliability, scalability, and sustainability.Due to high poverty levels in the state, applicants are required to offer a low-cost option and participate in any future federal or state broadband affordability assistance programs. Projects will receive extra points for providing solutions that foster social and economic development, and will be prioritized based on the degree of economic distress in the proposed project area.The program prioritizes networks proposing to deliver 100 Megabits per second symmetrical speeds, supporting low latency.Proposed project areas should target 80 percent unserved or underserved locations, with "unserved" referring to locations lacking 25 * 3 Mbps speeds reliably, while "underserved"  indicates areas lacking speeds of 100 * 20 Mbps.The Connect New Mexico Fund is particularly interested in diverse projects, such as those benefiting communities recovering from wildfires, or public safety networks that can also support fixed broadband solutions. One notable issue the state currently faces involves detention centers seeking enhanced connectivity for essential services like hearings, family communication, and administrative tasks.Consultation with the <a href="https://maps.connect.nm.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Mexico Broadband Map</a> is recommended, and plans must show an intent to launch services within 18 months of the NOFO issuance date. Project sizes may range from $250,000 to $6 million. The current statute limits payments for expenditures incurred to be made by June 30, 2025; however, efforts are underway to extend this deadline to June 30, 2028. A decision on this matter is expected in the coming months.Applications will undergo review on a rolling basis. The state’s broadband office is hosting <a href="https://connect.nm.gov/connect-nm-fund.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">events</a> in the coming week to field questions on the <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86833246093" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">application process</a> and <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81080479504" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">scoring rubric</a>.</div>

Connect New Mexico Fund's $70 Million state-led broadband grant program

Drew Lovelace

Office of Broadband - Deputy Director

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