Tribal Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) Workshop
The NM Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) is hosting this workshop on June 4th at BigByte Data Center in Albuquerque. Becoming an ETC is not just a regulatory step, it is a gateway to funding and can be a large part of a Tribal ISP’s sustainability planning. Join the conversation and add to the learning environment from 8:30 – 12:30. Refreshments will be provided. The workshop is free, but due to Data Center protocols, pre-registration is required. Registration Link
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OBAE
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Tribal ETC Workshop Resources and Notes:
- Public Regulation Commission's Telecommunications Rule
Within that Rule is the current Broadband Program (17.11.10.31).
The current (12) requirements to file a petition for ETC designation can be found on 17.11.10.24. These will be used as a guideline as they create the draft of the new Low Income Telecommunications Assistance Program (LITAP) Rule and are not yet set in stone for the LITAP, or "New Mexico ACP" (Affordable Connectivity Program). Comments/Edits have been made to the current Telecomm Rule and the Broadband Program by:- Smith Bagley, Inc. (SBi)
- Sacred Wind (made off of SBi's original edits)
- New Mexico Exchange Carrier Group (made off of SBi's original edits)
- ETC Designation one-sheet
- OBAE Broadband Guidebook
- OBAE Broadband Business Planning Guidebook
Brief Notes & Contact Info
- Different ways for Tribal ISP businesses:
Choosing a Tribal Business Structure | Indian Affairs- Tribal Department (informal)
- Tribal Enterprise (slightly formal)
- Tribal Corporation (formal) - a separate legal entity; not Section 17
- Section 17: a federally chartered corporation; a separate legal entity
- Tribal Corporation (TC) is filed with the NM Secretary of State's Office
- When you are a Tribal Corporation, you can receive loans from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utility Service (RUS)
- Requires TC separation from tribe and phone company
- Requires TC separation from tribe and phone company
- When you are a Tribal Corporation, you can receive loans from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utility Service (RUS)
- No waiver of sovereignty is required when only serving on tribal lands
- If you are serve your tribal land and then want to serve outside of your tribal boundaries, that will (currently) open regulation to ALL homes you serve, including those on tribal land
- Gets tricky with "checkerboard" land situations
- Gets tricky with "checkerboard" land situations
- OBAE's Grant Writing, Engineering & Planning (GWEP) award can be used for your exploring of and planning to become an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC). You can find the link to the application here.
PRC/ETC presentation
- Current Rule will be a guide for the new LITAP Rule
- Review of the 12 Requirements (17.11.10.24)
- #4: Public Interest is key/important. An example is, "This will provide people more choice for a service provider." (about competition)
- #5: provide examples like balance sheets
- #6: continue service if there is an outage
- #7: statement that you will comply
- #10: most petitions list more advantages than disadvantages, if at all
- #11: a statement that says something like, "we will provide the service in X amount of time"
- #12: cover anything the PRC's petition may have missed that you want mentioned
- OBAE proposed edits/changes/additions to the Rule
- New Rule should be Broadband focused rather than how it is currently stated, which includes Voice
- Use the Fabric Data (addresses), as those have already been vetted and approved by Nations, Pueblos and Tribes (NPT) in NM
- Edits/changes/additions mentioned during the meeting
- Should only be focused on broadband
- Recognize NPTs as Sovereign and include an exemption
- Relieve administrative burden
- Reporting should not be public, including financials
- If the federal government reinstates ACP, can receive both federal and state funds
- Once designated as an ETC and receive the LITAP/NM ACP funds, ISP should be allowed to receive Lifeline funds as well
- The subsidy should mirror the federal ACP, $75/Tribal household per month
- Locally owned ISPs should be a priority for the LITAP funds
- Archive of Rule-Making Documents
- NMECG Proposed SRUSF Rule Amendments 05.26.2026
- Sacred Wind Red-line of SRUSF Rule 17.11.10 NMAC Effective Date 3-12-24- Docket 25-00065-UT (Amendments to SRUSF Rule per SB-152)(965026.1)
- SBi.2026 0512 TELECOMM RULE DRAFT.docx
- SBi.2026 0512 Broadband Program Rule DRAFT
- 2026 0602 Broadband Program Rule DRAFT
- CURRENT.PRC Telecommunications Rule 17.11.10
- NMECG Proposed SRUSF Rule Amendments 05.26.2026
- PRC's Rulemaking Proceedings
- Link to set up a PRCe360 Account
PRC Contacts
Brady Tolleson
[email protected]
505-670-8354
Oluwatosin (Tosin) Olofinsao
[email protected]
505-709-8809
Gabriella Dasheno
[email protected]
505-470-2201
Michelle's Catering Services
Michelle Sandia
PO BOX 294
Jemez Pueblo, NM 87024
505-347-5730
For questions or more information, contact:
Victory Quintana
Tribal Broadband Coordinator & Liaison
NM Office of Broadband Access & Expansion (OBAE)
505-699-6050
