The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) has signed a $26.99 million federal grant agreement with Kit Carson Electric Cooperative to expand fiber broadband connectivity across northern New Mexico. The agreement marks the state’s first finalized project under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
The project will extend broadband infrastructure to 3,935 locations across Colfax, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Taos counties. Kit Carson plans to install approximately 1,035 miles of fiber infrastructure, comprising 931 miles of aerial cables and 104 miles of underground connections. The network will reach communities including Taos, Española, Questa, Red River, Chimayo, and Chama Valley.
The federal grant will cover approximately $27 million of the project cost, while Kit Carson will contribute an additional $12 million in matching funds, bringing the combined investment to approximately $39 million. The expansion will serve 1,970 locations that currently lack broadband access and another 1,965 with inadequate service. The project scope also identifies 31 community anchor institutions.
Kit Carson must complete environmental assessments, secure permits, and obtain the necessary Tribal and historic preservation approvals before starting construction. OBAE will oversee implementation, with completion expected by 2030.
The agreement is the first of 19 BEAD projects that New Mexico has awarded to 15 providers.