USDA Rural Development Grants - 
Connect Your Community
​with the USDA
Rural Development Telecommunication Programs
January 13, 2022, 10 AM MST

A webinar to provide the latest information on how a rural community can apply for funding to build or expand broadband and telecommunication services. Learn more about loan and grant funding available. High-speed broadband is vital to the prosperity of rural America. This can be accomplished in your community through loans and grants to build infrastructure and install equipment providing modern, reliable, high-speed Internet. Join this webinar to hear the latest information on accessing funding to build and expand telecommunication systems in rural communities. Ultimately, the creation of these systems will provide rural residents better access health care and education opportunities. Presented by USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) staff.
This webinar highlighting program opportunities in our telecommunications programs to include the Re-Connect, Community Connect, and Distance Learning Telemedicine (DLT) programs for rural communities.
Click to Register

​To learn more about Rural Development’s Telecom Programs, click here.

​For more information or questions about the webinar contact [email protected].
Community Broadband Spotlight: Chattanooga, Tennessee
10,000 Mbps to every Home and Business? How do they do It?
Mar 4, 2022 11:00 AM - 12 noon MT

​A virtual meeting hosted by CommUNITY Learning Network - All advocates and community members concerned, curious, or working on Broadband connectivity issues are invited to attend including Connect NM Council, Broadband Collective, Homework Gap Team, New Mexico DoIT, Smart and Connected Cities, Pueblo Connect, regional COGS, state agencies, counties, tribes, municipalities, coalitions, schools, libraries, community centers, neighborhood networks, and concerned citizens of all ages including students, teachers, and Seniors. REGISTER in advance for this meeting  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with info about joining the meeting.
Demystifying Broadband Policy and Funding
Wednesday, March 16, 2022, from 12-2 MT (2-4pm ET)
​
A two-hour livestream event to offer practical insights on how communities can seize this unprecedented moment to pursue community-driven broadband solutions and understand how to leverage the flood of federal funds available in the American Rescue Plan, the Consolidated Appropriation Act, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This event brings together local stakeholders, policy advocates, and funding experts from across the country with NDIA for a fast-paced, fun, and interactive conversation between policy advocates, network buildings, local officials, and anyone else interested in learning. Key features of the event include:
  • It will be emceed by our own Christopher Mitchell, director of ILSR’s Community Broadband Networks Initiative, and NDIA’s Training and Community Engagement Manager,Pamela Rosales. 
  • The main event is a 50-minute block with multiple presentations on coalition building that will cover what regional governments and coalitions are doing to leverage the flood of federal funds for broadband in the American Rescue Plan, the Consolidated Appropriation Act, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 
  • Another block will zero in on key details about the buckets of federal funds available to states and local communities, centered around the five things every local community should know about how these funds can be used most effectively. ​
The event will also include a Q&A for participants through a variety of popular social media platforms, along with fun trivia questions and prizes.

​To register for the event please follow this link.
Local Infrastructure Hub Broadband Webinar
August 16, 2022 12:00 PM MT
​
"The United States Conference of Mayors is hosting a series of Zoom sessions with our partners Bloomberg Philanthropies and Results for America, which will feature Biden Administration officials and policy experts to share key funding guidance and policy and innovation expertise. These sessions focus on elevating best practices to help cities create competitive outcomes-driven applications. In this session, we will begin our focus on broadband infrastructure."  The "Local Infrastructure Hub" is a fairly new initiative from the Conference of Mayors, Bloomberg and Results for America. 
https://usmayors.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pcuGsqz0sHd3rvli9Kzbkf-KU9K20HjAF
Tribal Broadband Convening
Monday, September 1, 2022, 8:30 - 4 pm
Location: Hotel Andaluz,  Albuquerque, NM

​The New Mexico Tribal Broadband Convening is part of a multi-year effort to support internet for all in rural New Mexico and for tribal members in New Mexico on behalf of the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion and the Connect New Mexico Council. The first took place September 12, 2022, at Hotel Andaluz,  in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and will focus on funding opportunities, data and mapping requirements, and building a broadband network to provide high-speed affordable internet offerings in your tribal community. This convening is reserved for tribal leaders and their designated staff only. We are hopeful to include as many IT staff and other tribal broadband teams as possible. Due to limited seating, consultants and vendors cannot be accommodated at this time. For attendees driving more than a 60-mile radius of Albuquerque, complimentary lodging was available on Sunday, September 11, 2022, at Hotel Andaluz in downtown Albuquerque.  
9/12/2022 Morning Session: ​"Purpose: Why Are We Here?"
Kelly Schlegel Director, Office of Broadband Access and Expansion 
9/12/2022 Slide Deck
9/12/2022 Morning Session: "Building Sovereign Community Networks"
Christopher Mitchell, Director, Community Broadband Networks, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Email: [email protected]  Website: www.ILSR.org 
weekly newsletter - www.MuniNetworks.org www.TribalBroadbandBootcamp.com   
​9/12/2022 Slide Deck
9/12/2022 Morning Sessions: "Building Your Own Network and Workforce"
Pueblo of Jemez and Pueblo of Santo Domingo
Tribal IT Roundtable Discussion
Facilitated by Gabe Montoya, NTIA, Broadband Program Specialist NTIA, Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program 
​[email protected]
9/12/2022 Afternoon Breakout Session:
Data and Mapping with FCC
Sean Spivey, Senior Counsel and Chief of Staff,, FCC Broadband Data Task Force
​[email protected]
Chelsea Fallon, Senior Implementation Officer,, FCC Broadband Data Task Force
9/12/2022 Slide Deck
NMDOT RuleMaking for Broadband
Thomas Wyman, NMDOT, [email protected]

9/12 Binder Sections:
Broadband FCC Map Challenge Coordination Meeting
Friday, September 23, 2022, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm  
Location: ANM at 4001 Jefferson Plaza NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico  

​Hosted by: NM Office of Broadband Access & Expansion
​Letter From Kelly Schlegel, Director
NM Office of Broadband Access and Expansion
​"As we continue to build our infrastructure and capacity within the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion, our ability to communicate these tight deadlines will improve. Please know that we consider you valued partners, and we will work in earnest to keep you informed as active participants in these important endeavors. While we encourage in-person attendance, we understand that for some individuals this may not be possible. With this in mind, a zoom link for the September 23 meeting is included.
​Invitation Letter
Broadband Map Challenge
​First Step: Access the FCC Data Location Fabric
https://help.bdc.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/5377509232283-How-Broadband-Service-Providers-Can-Access-the-Location-Fabric
The Fabric license is free and Government Entities and ISPs should register to access the FCC Fabric. Tribal owned telcos should request the Tribal version of the license agreement from the FCC’s vendor CostQuest. Tribal governments with tribally-operated ISPs should register as a Tribal ISP. The FCC is available to set up a video call to assist with the process and answer any questions. To request one-on-one support please send an email to [email protected]. ​

QuickStart Guides provide step-by-step guidance for filing based on the technology with which you provide services:
RSVP: [email protected]
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89412231827?pwd=bFlLSCtqSVBzcHptT0JvMzVOc0RxQT09
Meeting ID: 894 1223 1827
Passcode: 418459
One tap mobile
+17193594580,,89412231827#,,,,*418459# US
+17207072699,,89412231827#,,,,*418459# US (Denver)
Dial by your location
+1 719 359 4580 US
+1 720 707 2699 US
(Denver) +1 253 215 8782 US 
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kOHxBTRv
Tribal Broadband Convening 2
Friday, October 21, 2022, 1-3pm
Virtual
Agenda:
1:00 pm - Welcome & Review Updated Agenda  - Stephine Poston
1:05 pm - Overview - Kimball  Sekaqueptewa, Connect New Mexico Council Interim Chair
1:10 pm - Tribal Digital Equity Planning process and timeline Slide Deck
                  Angela Bennett, NTIA Tribal Digital Equity Program
1:50 pm - State Update on Digital Equity Planning Slide Deck
                  Kelly Schlegel, State of New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE)               
2:15 pm - NM Digital Equity Working Group Update
                  Eli Guinee, State Librarian and Co-Chair of Connect New Mexico Council Digital Equity Working Group
2:30 pm - Listening Session - Eli Guinee  
2:55 pm  - Closing announcements, feedback and next steps
Announcements  
FCC Tribal Libraries E-Rate Pilot Program https://www.fcc.gov/tribal-libraries   
Rural Health Care  https://www.usac.org/rural-health-care/healthcare-connect-fund-program/
Contact - Tribal Liaison, L. Stephine Poston, M.A. Owner/President, Poston & Associates, LLC
(505) 379-6172  [email protected]
Indigenous Connectivity Summit
October 24 to 28, 2022
​
The Indigenous Connectivity Institute will host the Indigenous Connectivity Summit 2022 (ICS 2022). The Indigenous Connectivity Summit brings together Indigenous community members, leaders, network operators, researchers and policymakers with a common goal: to connect Indigenous communities to fast, affordable and sustainable internet. The 2022 ICS is led by the newly-formed Indigenous Connectivity Institute, an initiative incubated by Connect Humanity, and co-organized in partnership with the Internet Society. (The first Indigenous Connectivity Summit was held in Santa Fe, NM, by the Internet Society in collaboration with CommUNITY Learning Network, NM TechWorks, and the First Mile Institute with support from RediNet, Google, ICANN, and ARRIN.) ** Only the sessions from Tuesday Oct 25 – Thurs Oct 27 will be livestreamed. **
Zoom https://bit.ly/3TA1IY3
Broadband Bootcamp for Counties
November 2022
​
Today, there is an unprecedented need for high-speed internet access. With a plethora of federal funds becoming made available for high-speed internet deployment, counties need to ensure they have a full grasp of the variety of considerations and decisions that are beneficial to ensuring they can adequately participate as partners in the deployment of high-speed broadband access. 
https://www.naco.org/events/broadband-bootcamp-counties
Webinars hosted by National Association of Counties (NACO)
www.naco.org
Tribal Broadband Convening 3
December. 1, 2022, 1-3pm

Agenda: Tribal Broadband Data and FCC Mapping Challenge
Facilitated by Natalie Runyan, NM DoIT GIS Director
and Godfrey Enjady, Chair of the Connect New Mexico Council Tribal Working Group
​
Contact: Tribal Liaison
L. Stephine Poston, M.A. Owner/President, Poston & Associates, LLC
(505) 379-6172  [email protected]
Federal Broadband Funding 101:
Resources for Local Government Webinar 
Hosted by U.S. Senator ​Ben Ray Luján
December 7, 2022, 11am - 1pm

Hosted by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján in collaboration with the National Telecommunication Information Administration, Federal Communications Commission, the National Association of Counties, and the NM Office of Broadband Access and Expansion

Agenda
​
Presenters:
  • U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (N.M.)
  • Valencia County Commissioner Jhonathan Aragon, Chair of NM Counties
  • Alison Nichols, Director of Policy, New Mexico Municipal League
  • Dianne Lindstrom, Deputy Director NM Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE)
  • Ovidiu Viorica, Public Schools Facilities Authority (PSFA) and Connect New Mexico Council member
  • Heidi Byrd, Federal Program Officer- New Mexico, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG) National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Knowledge Build Hudson, NTIA Digital Equity Advisor, US. Department of Commerce 
  • Ed Bartholme, Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
  • Seamus Dowdall, Associate Legislative Director for Telecommunications & Technology Policy issues, National Association of Counties 
  • Kitty Clemens, Destination Strategies  
  • Jerry Smith, Broadband Manager, Los Alamos County 
  • Misti Willock, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Sacred Wind?CommNet/Ethos Broadband
  • Melanie Goodman,  Field Representative, Office of U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (N.M.)  ​
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) National Telecommunication & Information Administration (NTIA)
NTIA Internet for All presentation by Heidi Byrd and Knowledge Build Power Point
Contact: Melanie Goodman 
Field Representative, Office of U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) 
Las Cruces, NM
(575) 520-6492
Website | Facebook | 
​Twitter | Instagram

​New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) National Association of Counties (NACo)
NACo is collecting and sharing low-cost or free resources that local governments can take advantage of in the absence of retaining a GIS staffer at the local level. These resources can be found on their Broadband Data Collection blog here: https://www.naco.org/blog/participate-fcc-broadband-data-collection-process
​
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
More information on ACP can be found at: www.affordableconnectivity.gov.  

It provides eligible households with a monthly discount on their broadband bill (home or mobile). The discount is $30/month and goes up to $75/month for households located on Tribal Lands.
Next Century Cities Building Broadband Together
December 7, 2022, 1pm - 3pm
Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Hosted by Next Century Cities in collaboration with the City of Albuquerque with support from the Hispanic Cultural Center and the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion Next Century Cities works alongside communities of all sizes and political stripes to support local officials who are working to expand broadband access and increase adoption.
​Becoming Broadband Ready Toolkit
Show Me Your Maps Report 
​
Recording:  https://youtu.be/pGZ5JrFFIGo

Presenters:
Flyer
Contact: Roxanna "Roxy" Barboza
​Program Director, Next Century Cities
[email protected]
661-332- 6752
www.NextCenturyCities.org
U.S. Senate Broadband Hearing
“Ensuring Solutions to Meet America’s Broadband Needs”
Wednesday, December 13, 2022, 8AM MT
U.S. Senate,  Washington, D.C.

U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media and Broadband, convened a subcommittee hearing titled “Ensuring Solutions to Meet America’s Broadband Needs” on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at 10 a.m. ET. Millions of Americans live in rural, Tribal and low-income urban areas that do not have access to affordable broadband. Congress has provided support for fixed and mobile broadband, including through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). New federal support for broadband access, affordability and inclusion will bring us closer to closing the digital divide and achieving digital equity. This hearing will examine ongoing and past efforts within the public and private sectors to bring affordable, resilient and secure broadband to all communities.
​
Witnesses -  Testimony
  • Kimball Sekaquaptewa
    Chair, Connect New Mexico Council; Chief Technology Director, Santa Fe Indian School
    Download Testimony
  • Hon. Michael Powell 
    President and CEO, NCTA – The Internet & Television Association
    Download Testimony
  • Jonathan Spalter 
    President and CEO, USTelecom
    Download Testimony
  • Angela Siefer 
    ​Executive Director, National Digital Inclusion Alliance
    Download Testimony
Hearing Link: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2022/12/ensuring-solutions-to-meet-america-s-broadband-needs
Watch Live Stream: 
www.commerce.senate.gov
Hearing Details:
Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband
Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at 10 a.m. ET
Committee Hearing Room, Russell 253
Due to current limited access to the Capitol complex, the general public is encouraged to view this hearing via the live stream. 
If you are having trouble viewing this hearing, please try the following steps:
  1. Clear your browser's cache - 
    ​Guide to clearing browser cache
  2. Close and re-open your browser
  3. If the above two steps do not help, please try another browser. Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge have the highest level of compatibility with our player.
Pueblo Mapping Working Session 1
December 20, 2022, 9am-4pm
big byte, 123 Central Avenue NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 (parking is available)

The purpose of this session is to provide onsite technical assistance to the staff responsible for submitting mapping challenges to the FCC.  The accuracy of the maps and documenting the need in the the Pueblos will ultimately determine future funding. 

​Who should attend:
Pueblo GIS, IT, Housing Personnel or staff responsible for the FCC data mapping. Each participating Pueblo should bring at least one laptop as GIS personnel support will be onsite to help each Pueblo with their maps.

​Agenda:
9:00 am Welcome
9:15 am Training provided by Natalie Runyan, NM GIS Officer
9:45 am Working session
Noon Working lunch provided
1:00 pm Working session
4:00 pm Close

The Pueblo Mapping Work Session is sponsored by COOL (Cultivating Our Own to Lead) Cohort, funded through the Santa Fe Indian School with support from the LANL Foundation.
Notes:
  • NM GIS will have technical support personnel on site
  • Each Pueblo should bring at least one laptop
  • If your Pueblo is registered with CostQuest, please bring username and password
  • FCC personnel will attend via zoom for technical support
  • Snacks, beverages and lunch will be provided
  • Participants will receive a $150 stipend
For technical assistance on the FCC Data Mapping Challenge, please contact Natalie Runyan, NM GIS Officer at [email protected]. 

For questions about the December 20, 2022, working session, please contact Steph Poston [email protected]. 

​If your Pueblo has completed the FCC data mapping challenge - Congratulations!
To report waste, fraud, & abuse or learn about the Whistleblower Protection Act, please click here.
Interested in learning more and getting involved?
Join the Mailing List to stay informed.
(c) 2022 NM OBAE​