Santa Fe presents broadband strategic plan, targets six public Wi‑Fi locations and digital equity steps

At a Quality of Life Committee meeting, Johanna Nelson, director of the Office of Economic Development, introduced the citybroadband and Wi‑Fi strategic planning work, saying the office had used American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and outside planning help to produce an implementation roadmap.

The plan the office presented groups infrastructure, affordability and adoption work into a three‑phase approach: (1) assess existing fiber and ISP service (middle mile and last mile), (2) evaluate delivery and funding options, and (3) adopt an action plan to stand up pilots and measurable programs. Tony Flores of f5 Planning and Consulting, the cityconsultant on the plan, emphasized the technical baseline: "Broadband in its truest sense is just the getting information from point a to point." He told the committee the city has substantial broadband infrastructure but that the plan identifies gaps in affordability, outreach and public Wi‑Fi accessibility.

Why it matters: Committee members and presenters framed the plan as a response to the digital divide exposed during the COVID‑19 pandemic, when lack of reliable home Internet affected education, telehealth and small business activity. Nelson and Lizzie Portillo, an economic development specialist on Nelsonteam, said the plan was built to align with federal and state grant requirements (NTIA, FCC/BEAD) so Santa Fe can apply for implementation funds if they become available.

Key elements presented

- Targeted ARPA pilots: The presentation identified six priority public locations for expanded free Wi‑Fi as the first implementation step, including Swan Park and the Hopewell Mann and Las Acequias areas. The site list was based on park visitation and census tract demographics. Nelson said the pilot builds on an earlier ARPA initiative and must be obligated by the ARPA deadline that the office tracked.

- Tech Connect and device distribution: The plan expands library Tech Connect-style programs (mobile hotspots and loaner laptops). Portillo said recent ARPA funding increased those devices and that the city will track use and demand.

- Affordability and adoption: Flores and staff told the committee that federal household subsidies matter to adoption. Flores described the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) lapse and said the state BEAD process changed rules in mid‑2024; he warned that projected state broadband dollars are lower than earlier estimates. Staff said affordability remains a major barrier for low‑income households even when 100/20 Mbps service is available in a neighborhood.

- Implementation choices and partnership: The presentation said the city examined becoming an Internet service provider but rejected that as a city‑operated ISP because of capital and operating costs. Instead, the plan prioritizes public Wi‑Fi nodes, outreach and "digital navigator" programs to help seniors and other residents adopt services safely. Flores also recommended intergovernmental coordination with Santa Fe County; both city staff and Flores said early conversations with the county are underway and a county presentation was scheduled to the county commission.

- Communications and metrics: Staff identified the need for a clear, single point of public information (a messaging/communications plan and a web hub listing available ISPs, free Wi‑Fi sites and device programs) and said the city will adopt measurable indicators for pilot success before seeking additional grant funding.

Questions from councilors: Committee members asked where funding would come from if federal/state dollars did not materialize. Flores and Nelson said current ARPA funds can seed the pilot (poles/equipment), but long‑term expansion will require additional grant awards or recurring city investment; they asked the council to refer funding leads and indicated they would return with measurable pilot results. Councilor Alma Castro asked specifically about alternative funding sources; Flores described uncertainty in federal/state flows and said many BEAD prequalification rules favored providers rather than cities.

What the plan does not do: Presenters and councilors repeatedly said the plan does not assume the city will operate as an ISP, will not guarantee household broadband installation for every address immediately, and does not establish permanent funding beyond ARPA obligations.

Next steps and timeline: Staff said the immediate steps are to deploy the six Wi‑Fi sites under ARPA (equipment procurement and installation), expand device lending at libraries, finalize a communications hub and measure pilot performance. Staff will report back with pilot metrics and any grant opportunities staff pursues.

Ending: The committee thanked staff for the work and asked for the presentation materials and maps to be posted to the committee packet; staff committed to providing updated maps and to solicit council feedback before seeking additional funding.