New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion
OBAE is a New Mexico state government agency established in 2021 that coordinates statewide broadband deployment and digital equity programs. It administers over $785M in federal and state appropriations, distributing grants to ISPs, tribal communities, cooperatives, and local governments to connect the state's remaining unserved residents.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersSanta Fe, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion does
The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) is a state government agency established in 2021 under the Broadband Access and Expansion Act and the Connect New Mexico Act, headquartered in Santa Fe. Its core function is coordinating statewide broadband deployment and digital equity initiatives, with a legislated mandate to bring high-speed internet to 100% of New Mexico (currently at 90% coverage). OBAE administers a portfolio of programs including the federal BEAD program ($675M allocation, $382M awarded to 17 recipients covering approximately 42,500 underserved locations), the state Connect New Mexico Fund ($100M), the Statewide Education Network, Tribal Broadband, Workforce Training, Student Connect, Public Wi-Fi grants, Emergency Broadband Operations, and the newly authorized Low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program (SB152, $10M).
OBAE operates as a grant-distribution and coordination body rather than a commercial service provider. It works with internet service providers, telephone and electric cooperatives, tribal entities (most notably Navajo Nation with a $111M BEAD award), local governments, and educational institutions to deploy fiber, fixed wireless, and satellite broadband infrastructure. The agency operates a statewide Broadband Mapping and Data Hub (maps.connect.nm.gov) and a crowdsourced NM Speed Test tool, tracking over $2B in broadband investments across the state. Programs are free to eligible recipients, with no pricing or billing model applied to government services.
The agency's revenue model is based on federal and state appropriations rather than commercial sales. Capital flows in from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (BEAD), the New Mexico State Legislature (Connect New Mexico Fund, SB152), FEMA (disaster recovery), and ARPA (community Wi-Fi). In March 2026, Governor Lujan Grisham signed the Broadband Affordability Bill, establishing New Mexico's first state-level internet affordability program. OBAE is led by Director Jeff Lopez (appointed June 2025) with a lean team of 1-10 employees supported by a Connect New Mexico Council and working groups spanning infrastructure, literacy, data, policy, and economic development.
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion
- Legal name
- New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion
- Website
- https://connect.nm.gov
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- OBAE is a New Mexico state government agency established in 2021 that coordinates statewide broadband deployment and digital equity programs. It administers over $785M in federal and state appropriations, distributing grants to ISPs, tribal communities, cooperatives, and local governments to connect the state's remaining unserved residents.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Government Broadband Infrastructure Coordination
- NAICS
- Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171), Administration of Economic Programs (926), American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (921150)
- SIC
- Communications Services, Nec (4899)
- akta.pro industry
- Rural & Universal Service Fixed Broadband ProvidersHardware, Technology & Telecom/Telecommunications & Network Services/Fixed-Line Telecommunications (Voice & Broadband)Municipal & Community Broadband NetworksHardware, Technology & Telecom/Telecommunications & Network Services/Cable & Fiber Network Operators (HFC/FTTx)Rural Broadband & Cooperative Fiber OperatorsHardware, Technology & Telecom/Telecommunications & Network Services/Cable & Fiber Network Operators (HFC/FTTx)
Keywords
Where New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Fe
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Federal BEAD Program Funding: The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program provides approximately $675 million in federal funding for broadband infrastructure projects across New Mexico. OBAE distributes these funds through competitive grants to internet service providers, cooperatives, and tribal entities.
- Connect New Mexico Fund: State-appropriated funding of $100 million for broadband deployment and digital equity programs, managed by OBAE.
- Low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program: Senate Bill 152 authorizes $10 million for low-income telecommunications assistance, creating a New Mexico version of the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Free broadband grants to qualifying organizations |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OBAE coordinates broadband infrastructure deployment across New Mexico by administering federal BEAD funding, state legislative appropriations, and tribal and rural grant programs. It funds internet service providers, cooperatives, tribal communities, and local governments to build fiber, fixed wireless, and satellite networks in underserved areas, while also running consumer-facing connectivity programs for students and low-income households. The office maintains a state broadband mapping and data hub used to target investments and verify service availability.
Product overview
The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) is a state government agency overseeing a comprehensive portfolio of broadband deployment and digital equity programs. The core offerings include the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) Program distributing federal funds for infrastructure, the Connect New Mexico Fund providing state appropriations, and the Statewide Education Network connecting schools. These are complemented by specialized programs including Tribal Broadband for Native communities, Workforce Training for building broadband professionals, Emergency Broadband Operations for disaster recovery, and various grant programs (Community Connect, Student Connect, GWEP, Disaster Relief) addressing specific connectivity needs. OBAE also administers the Digital Navigator Program and the Low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program to promote adoption and affordability.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BEAD Program (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) Federal broadband infrastructure grant program administered by OBAE that distributes approximately $382M in approved grants (from a $675M allocation) to ISPs, cooperatives, and tribal communities to deploy high-speed internet to underserved locations across New Mexico.
- Connect New Mexico Fund State-funded broadband grant program receiving $100 million in appropriations to support broadband deployment and digital equity initiatives across New Mexico, managed by OBAE.
- Statewide Education Network (SEN) Network connecting schools and educational institutions to high-speed broadband internet services throughout New Mexico.
- Tribal Broadband Program Initiative focused on expanding broadband access to tribal communities and Native American populations in New Mexico, including the Navajo Nation which received the largest BEAD award of $111 million.
- Emergency Broadband Operations Program providing broadband connectivity recovery and deployment in disaster-affected areas of New Mexico, including projects in Ruidoso and Lincoln County following fire damage.
- ARPA Community WiFi Project Federal ARPA-funded initiative providing community Wi-Fi access points in underserved areas of New Mexico.
- Community Connect Grant program funding public Wi-Fi infrastructure at community locations including libraries, community centers, and public spaces across New Mexico.
- Connect NM Pilot ARPA-CPF Pilot program using American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery funds for broadband infrastructure projects in New Mexico.
- Student Connect Program providing free broadband connectivity to qualifying K-12 students and school staff in rural and underserved areas of New Mexico, delivered in partnership with internet service providers.
- GWEP (Governmental Wideband Emergency Program) Program providing broadband grants to tribal units, local government units, electric cooperatives, and telephone cooperatives for emergency and essential connectivity in New Mexico.
- Disaster Relief Broadband recovery grants for areas impacted by natural disasters in New Mexico, funding fiber and digital infrastructure restoration.
- Low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program (Senate Bill 152) State legislation providing $10 million in funding for low-income telecommunications assistance, creating a New Mexico version of the Affordable Connectivity Program for qualifying households.
- Digital Navigator Program Program providing digital navigation assistance to help New Mexicans access broadband services, affordability programs, and digital skills training.
- Free Workforce Development Program Free program building New Mexico's broadband workforce through training, certification exams, and skills development for careers in broadband deployment and infrastructure.
Companies that use New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.
- Internet Service ProviderscoreOBAE partners with ISPs to deploy broadband infrastructure through BEAD grants. Recipients include both national and local internet service providers deploying fiber and wireless networks across New Mexico.
- Navajo NationcoreNavajo Nation received the largest BEAD award of $111 million for tribal broadband infrastructure deployment, representing a flagship tribal broadband initiative.
- Telecommunications CooperativescoreTelephone and electric cooperatives receive BEAD funding to deploy broadband in rural cooperative service territories, leveraging existing infrastructure relationships.
- Connect New Mexico CouncilcoreAdvisory council with working groups focused on infrastructure, literacy, data analysis, policy advocacy, and economic development to guide broadband strategy statewide.
- U.S. Senator Ben Ray LujanmoderateFederal legislator who championed broadband funding for New Mexico and participates in workforce development roundtables and advocacy events.
- New Mexico Department of Cultural AffairsminorState agency partnership to provide public Wi-Fi access at 12 historic sites and museums throughout New Mexico.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Virginia Office of Broadband Equity and Expansion: Virginia's state broadband office administering BEAD funding and coordinating universal broadband access. Highly comparable peer with similar mandate, federal funding flow, and program structure covering infrastructure, digital equity, and affordability.
- Illinois Office of Broadband / Connect Illinois: Illinois's state broadband initiative administering BEAD funding and the Connect Illinois program. Directly comparable peer coordinating broadband deployment, digital equity, and ISP grant distribution.
- Georgia Broadband Infrastructure Program: Georgia's state broadband initiative under the Georgia Technology Authority administering BEAD funds and rural deployment. Comparable peer with similar rural broadband mandate and program structure.
- Colorado Broadband Office: State broadband office administering BEAD funds and state broadband programs in Colorado. Directly comparable as a peer state agency coordinating rural broadband, digital equity, and affordability initiatives with similar federal funding structure.
- North Carolina Department of Information Technology - Broadband Division: North Carolina's state broadband office responsible for GREAT grant program and BEAD administration. Comparable peer operating similar state-level broadband deployment and digital equity programs with federal-state funding coordination.
- Washington State Broadband Office: Washington state's broadband office administering BEAD funding and state broadband programs. Comparable peer with similar mandate covering infrastructure deployment, digital equity, and tribal broadband coordination.
- New York State ConnectALL Office: New York's state broadband office administering BEAD funding and the ConnectALL initiative. Comparable peer administering similar federal-state broadband deployment programs with comprehensive program portfolio.
- Oregon Broadband Office: Oregon's state broadband office administering BEAD funding and rural broadband programs. Comparable peer with similar mandate, federal-state funding coordination, and rural deployment focus.
- Texas Broadband Development Office: Texas's equivalent state broadband office created to administer BEAD funding and coordinate rural broadband deployment. Most directly comparable peer given similar scope, mandate, federal funding flow, and rural/tribal deployment challenges.
Broad incumbents
- California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) - Broadband Section: California's state regulatory body administering CASF and other broadband infrastructure programs. Comparable as a state-level entity with authority over broadband deployment funding and ISP coordination, though California has vastly larger scale and a different regulatory model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion social profiles
Digital presenceNew Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion
What does New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion do?
OBAE coordinates broadband infrastructure deployment across New Mexico by administering federal BEAD funding, state legislative appropriations, and tribal and rural grant programs. It funds internet service providers, cooperatives, tribal communities, and local governments to build fiber, fixed wireless, and satellite networks in underserved areas, while also running consumer-facing connectivity programs for students and low-income households. The office maintains a state broadband mapping and data hub used to target investments and verify service availability.
Is New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion a public or private company?
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion founded?
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion based?
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion is headquartered in Santa Fe, United States, in the North America region.
How does New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Federal BEAD Program Funding is the primary driver. The others are connect New Mexico Fund and low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program.
Who are New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Virginia Office of Broadband Equity and Expansion, Illinois Office of Broadband / Connect Illinois, Georgia Broadband Infrastructure Program, Colorado Broadband Office, North Carolina Department of Information Technology - Broadband Division, Washington State Broadband Office, New York State ConnectALL Office, Oregon Broadband Office and Texas Broadband Development Office. California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) - Broadband Section is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion have an API?
No public API is recorded for New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion.
What industry is New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion in?
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion's product category is Government Broadband Infrastructure Coordination. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIABAJ, Rural & Universal Service Fixed Broadband Providers, with a secondary code of HDAIACAE, Municipal & Community Broadband Networks. Its NAICS code is 5171 and its SIC code is 4899.