# New Mexico Signs First BEAD Build Agreement

On October 14, 2026, New Mexico signed its first Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) construction grant agreement, committing $26.9 million in federal funding and more than $12 million in matching funds to Kit Carson Electric Cooperative for a fiber-to-the-premises build serving 3,935 locations across five northern New Mexico counties. Completion is targeted for 2030. The agreement is part of a wider state-level move from BEAD planning to construction: Michigan signed agreements with 23 internet service providers on October 19, covering nearly 200,000 locations through a $916 million federal-private package. For contractors, these awards create multi-year deployment work while replacement-provider actions and environmental, tribal consultation, and right-of-way requirements may affect schedules and subcontracting needs.

- New Mexico’s $26.9 million federal award, paired with more than $12 million in cooperative matching funds, is a concrete opportunity for fiber construction and related deployment services; the project targets 3,935 homes, businesses, and public institutions.
- The state’s $382 million BEAD infrastructure deployment portfolio and Michigan’s separate agreements indicate that work is advancing across multiple state programs. Contractors can evaluate where their construction, engineering, and deployment capabilities align with announced projects.
- Companies pursuing New Mexico work should account for the multi-year environmental review, tribal consultation, and right-of-way requirements identified for the build when planning schedules and subcontracting.
- OBAE’s replacement-provider process and remaining BEAD contract actions may create further opportunities as awards are reassigned or advanced.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Information Technology, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Digital Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 23, 2026

### Government Entities
- New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE)
- National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

### Vendors
- Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (BEAD awardee and project builder)
- Kit Carson Internet (Broadband subsidiary supporting the cooperative's build)
- Resound Networks LLC (Provisional BEAD awardee whose 11 awards were rescinded)
- Delta-Montrose Electric Cooperative (BEAD awardee that withdrew from the program)

### Sources
- [Rural Broadband Wave Begins: NM Co-op Signs First BEAD Agreement in Construction Push](https://www.techtimes.com/articles/329405/20261023/rural-broadband-wave-begins-nm-co-op-signs-first-bead-agreement-construction-push.htm) - Tech Times