Press Release
NMSurf is urging NTIA and New Mexico officials to “stop wasteful duplication and protect veteran-owned broadband providers.”
News provided by: NMSurf
Santa Fe, New Mexico – NMSurf, a veteran-owned internet service provider based in New Mexico, is raising alarm over nearly $29 million in BEAD broadband funds awarded to another company, Sacred Wind Communications, to overbuild service in areas of Santa Fe County that NMSurf already covers with reliable broadband.
According to state filings, SWC was awarded $22 million in federal funding toward a project totaling $29 million, which aims to reach 1,071 locations in Santa Fe County for fixed wireless at cost of approximately $27,000 per location. NMSurf currently provides broadband service to about 75% of these 1,071 locations, already using fixed wireless technology that consistently meets or exceeds BEAD performance standards.
“This is a textbook example of wasteful federal spending,” said Albert Catanach, founder and CEO of NMSurf. “Taxpayer dollars are being used to duplicate service where it already exists, while unserved communities across New Mexico are still waiting for broadband. As a veteran-owned small business, we’ve invested years building reliable networks in Santa Fe County — and now we’re being overbuilt with public money.”
More headlines involving NMSurf
NMSurf asks NTIA to ‘prevent wasteful overbuilding’ in New Mexico (August 2025)
NMSurf urges the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and New Mexico’s Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) to take immediate action to prevent overbuilding and ensure fair treatment of veteran-owned providers and to:
- Use FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) maps as the standard for determining unserved areas, rather than relying on short, burdensome resubmission windows
- Halt overbuilding in Santa Fe County and other areas where qualifying service already exists
- Guarantee veteran-owned small providers a fair chance to compete by removing unnecessary procedural barriers
Image provided courtesy of NMSurf
“This isn’t about competition — it’s about fairness and responsible use of federal funds,” added Catanach. “Every dollar wasted on duplicating service in Santa Fe is a dollar not spent on families in truly unserved communities.”
The Santa Fe example highlights a nationwide concern: BEAD funds risk being misallocated to areas already properly served, diverting resources from the mission to close the digital divide. NMSurf urges decision-makers to prioritize unserved families and ensure that every dollar strengthens America’s broadband future.
About NMSurf
NMSurf is a veteran-owned broadband provider headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico. For over 28 years, the company has delivered affordable, reliable broadband across New Mexico, with a mission to connect rural and underserved communities.
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