Pueblo of Zia Received New Mexico Broadband Planning Grant
The funding supports engineering work for 12 miles of new fiber infrastructure serving 193 homes in Sandoval County.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Telecommunications
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The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion awarded a $100,000 planning grant to the Pueblo of Zia. This funding covers professional services required to extend fiber broadband to 193 unserved homes and 12 Tribal community institutions.
Why it matters
The grant supports critical infrastructure expansion in rural and Tribal areas by eliminating the need for matching funds. This investment facilitates the planning process necessary to deploy 12 miles of fiber connectivity in Sandoval County.
The grant allocates $81,000 for aerial surveys and subsurface utility engineering, while $19,000 covers grant writing to secure further federal support. This funding covers 12 miles of infrastructure development, adding to the 45 grants already issued by the OBAE.
The players
Pueblo of Zia
A Tribal nation located in New Mexico that is currently working to expand local telecommunications infrastructure.
New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion
The state agency responsible for managing the $5 million GWEP program to improve rural internet access.
The details
The project utilizes subsurface utility engineering—a process of mapping existing underground infrastructure—to safely plan the installation of 12 miles of fiber optic cable. These aerial surveys ensure the fiber path avoids conflicts with existing utilities before physical construction begins. The grant explicitly funds these professional engineering services to prepare the Pueblo of Zia for larger-scale broadband deployment.
Timeline
June 30, 2027: The GWEP grant funding expires.
The Tech Race
This award is part of the New Mexico GWEP program, which has now distributed 45 individual grants to expand state connectivity. It marks the latest step in the effort to bridge the digital divide in rural areas, following the deployment strategies established by the $5 million program budget.
The project targets 193 unserved homes and 12 Tribal institutions in Sandoval County by installing 12 miles of new fiber infrastructure. Residents in these locations will gain access to higher-speed broadband once the engineering phase concludes and subsequent construction is completed.
The takeaway
This planning grant enables the necessary engineering foundation for expanding fiber access to Tribal communities. Watch for subsequent announcements regarding construction timelines as the current grant funding expires on June 30, 2027.
Further reading
For more updates on regional connectivity, see Telecommunications.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Telecompetitor.
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