STATE News:SANTA FE — The federal government today approved New Mexico’s landmark $382 million broadband infrastructure proposal, unlocking funding to connect more than 42,500 unserved and underserved locations statewide. The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) will award 31 grants through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program – the state’s largest broadband funding initiative. The BEAD program was created when President Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law in 2021. “Our BEAD program will provide fundamental broadband services to rural and Tribal communities that have waited far too long,” Jeff Lopez, OBAE director said. However, the remaining $293 million of BEAD funding is not yet available due to pending guidance from the U.S. Department of Commerce.