New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

Interested in job opportunities with the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access & Expansion? Check out these job postings, but don't delay! Applications for these vacancies are accepted through the end of today (7/13/2024)! To learn more visit Careers.Share.NM.gov and search broadband jobs, listed as part of the Department of Information Technology.

Technical Assistance Funding Opportunity: The USDA Rural Development has made $25 million available through its Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) Program. The money will help communities build technical assistance and training to improve broadband adoption in rural America. The program is designed to help local organizations, cooperatives and Tribes expand affordable, high-speed internet projects in rural communities. There is no cost share or matching requirement. Under the Technical Assistance Providers category, applicants must propose to deliver broadband technical assistance that will benefit rural communities. Up to $15 million is available. The minimum award is $100,000. The maximum is $1 million. Under the Technical Assistance Recipients category, applicants must be the recipients of the broadband technical assistance. Up to $10 million is available. The minimum award is $50,000. The maximum is $500,000. Application closes on August 20, 2024. To learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/gDPdDh7T...

Acting Director Drew Lovelace, MBA, SHRM-SCP, PHR and the OBAE team enjoyed meeting people and engaging with Portales residents earlier this week at Eastern New Mexico University as part of the governor's Cabinet in Your Community initiative. Thanks to the many folks who took the time to participate. We look forward to future opportunities to visit local communities to share resource information and address efforts to enhance broadband connectivity throughout New Mexico. #ConnectNM #PortalesNM Richard Govea Eric Moores Mike Curtis

Yesterday News Radio KKOB's Bob Clark hosted an important discussion with General Manager Godfrey Enjady of Mescalero Apache Telecom. Inc. Enjady updated listeners about their efforts to restore telecommunications during the devastating South Fork and Salt Fires and shared the latest information on how communities in the Ruidoso and Mescalero area have been impacted in the aftermath. You can listen here: https://lnkd.in/gqm4QeJJ

Thanks to Plateau Telecommunications CEO Launa Waller and her staff for providing a tour of their facilities while OBAE team members were in Clovis and Portales for Cabinet in Your Community. We appreciate their hospitality and the informative discussions about their ongoing projects and operations. Drew Lovelace, MBA, SHRM-SCP, PHR Scott L. Eric Moores Richard Govea

If you or your community are interested in exploring your broadband future or if you are looking to learn about BEAD and the record $42.5 billion dollar investment from the federal government, join OBAE in Denver for a one-of-a-kind broadband conference. The Mountain Connect broadband conference will take place August 5-7. The public is invited! OBAE's Acting Director Drew Lovelace and BEAD coordinator Andrew Wilder and a host of Broadband experts and leaders will be there! Visit https://lnkd.in/d8YBziV to register and https://lnkd.in/gtW2wSbB to peruse the agenda. You can use the code “SBOguest 2024” to receive 10% off registration.

ICYMI - Good news for those who were unable to attend the Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's Community Town Hall in Portales. You can watch it after the fact by clicking on the link.

We had a great couple of days in Clovis and Portales as part of the Governor's Cabinet in Your Community events. As part of the state services expo at Clovis Community College, Acting Director Drew Lovelace, MBA, SHRM-SCP, PHR and members of the OBAE team had meaningful exchanges with attendees regarding the current state and future of broadband in the area and resources available to the community. Following the expo, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham led the town hall at which Acting Director Lovelace and other members of the cabinet addressed questions from the audience. #CabinetInYourCommunity #ClovisNM #PortalesNM #InternetForAll Richard Govea Eric Moores Mike Curtis

Broadband Buildout Initiative: Apply by August 5 The Dallas Fed is hosting an important information session TODAY (Wednesday, July 10) about how smaller cities and rural communities can apply for assistance to review infrastructure plans, partner with internet service providers (ISPs) and find sources of funding. Southern New Mexico communities can apply for the initiative. To learn more about the program and application process, attend an open forum on July 10 at 2 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. MT. For more information and to register for the session, log onto their website: https://lnkd.in/gfqWefsQ

Southern New Mexico Communities Can Apply for Texas Broadband Buildout Initiative   The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas is looking to help Southern New Mexico communities in its district through the Federal Reserve’s Broadband Buildout Initiative. That program supports small communities that have developed broadband infrastructure project plans but are held back by technical expertise limitations or challenges with financing. Participants will receive technical assistance and guidance to help fund and execute their projects successfully. Communities selected to participate will work with initiative partner Connect Humanity to review infrastructure plans, partner with internet service providers (ISPs) and find sources of funding. This may include help to review infrastructure plans, partner with internet service providers (ISPs) or find sources of funding. Applicants must be working on broadband infrastructure projects in small or mid-size communities or rural areas. To learn more about the Broadband Buildout Initiative and to apply, go to: https://lnkd.in/gfqWefsQ Applications are open through August 5.