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County to negotiate BEAD matching agreement and approves fiber easement to expand middle‑mile broadband
Summary
The board authorized negotiation of state matching funds to support a Sacred Wind/Comnet BEAD deployment and approved a non‑exclusive easement for Plateau Communications to build a redundant middle‑mile fiber route across county fairgrounds, aiming to improve rural connectivity and create backup capacity.
Santa Fe County commissioners authorized negotiations May 26 with the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Equity to provide local non‑federal match resources that would support a BEAD award to Sacred Wind/Comnet. County leaders proposed using $1.85 million previously identified for radio greenfield sites as part of the nonfederal match; commissioners discussed adding up to $500,000 more if necessary. The measure passed unanimously.
Sponsors said the match would help secure almost $30 million in federal funding and build infrastructure that would also be coordinated to benefit the county’s planned digital trunk radio system. Commissioners stressed the importance of negotiating terms to ensure the county’s public‑safety radio needs are met as part of the BEAD deployment.
Separately the board approved a non‑exclusive easement across the county fairgrounds at 3229 Rodeo Road so Plateau Telecommunications can finish a federally funded middle‑mile fiber build along NM‑14; staff described the section across county property as the final connection to a new central office and noted the route adds redundancy to the region’s primary fiber path. Commissioners asked staff to explore whether the contractor could include conduit or a connection to a county point of presence while trenching is done.
Speakers: Chair Justin Green; Commissioner Camila Bamante; County Manager Greg Schaefer; Andrew Wilder (state Office of Broadband, present); Michelle (Public Works) described the Plateau easement request.
Why it matters: The BEAD match negotiation could leverage significant federal funds to expand broadband in rural parts of Santa Fe County. The Plateau easement will create a redundant fiber route and improve resilience; commissioners asked staff to secure a county conduit connection while the contractor has the trench open.
Next steps: County manager and staff to negotiate a matching-funds agreement and to finalize an easement with Plateau Communications; staff will confirm whether conduit to the county POP can be added during construction.
