BIA coordinated with the project sponsor (Santa Fe Indian School) and the lead agency (NTIA) to adjust the milestone deadlines. We propose bumping Zuni Agency ROW (where construction is intended to begin first) out 6 months and bumping Ramah Agency and Southern Pueblos Agency ROWs out 9 months. This will provide sufficient time for SFIS to submit complete ROW applications and for legal review of recently submitted waivers for definite location. For further justification, please see the attached. As always, the NTIA and BIA are supportive of completing milestones earlier than the Dashboard deadlines. The BIA is prepared to process applications as soon as all required documents and materials are submitted.
Cooperating under NEPA
Description:
4 miles of project crosses through Navajo Ramah land and will cross allotment parcels requiring a ROW from BIA Ramah Navajo Agency.
Milestones:
Additional Milestones:
Submitted draft ROW application one day early on 7/14/25
All dates below are specific to the schedule of the Environmental Review and Permitting processes for this project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING STATUS
IN PROGRESS
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING
10/29/2026
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED
SECTOR
Broadband
CATEGORY
Project Category
FAST-41 Covered Projects
LEAD AGENCY
Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
View FAST-41 Postings by Agencies
Other Agencies with Actions or Authorizations:
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers - Section 408
Description:
The Pueblo Education Network builds middle mile broadband infrastructure for tribes, enabling digital economy participation and effectuating last-mile internet access to homes and anchor institutions and tribal businesses. The Pueblo Education Network also creates a private education network connecting tribal PreK-20 schools and libraries to each other and to national research and education networks, modernizing Indian Education in the global information age. The overall footprint is approximately 324 miles. The project originates in Albuquerque, New Mexico and travels through Isleta Pueblo, Acoma Pueblo, and Zuni Pueblo lands with the fiber path ending at the Zuni Elementary School, Zuni Head Start Building, Zuni Governor’s Office, and Zuni High School. The fiber path will primarily be immediately adjacent to already established roads and will travel through private lands, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, New Mexico State Land Office, Navajo Nation lands at Ramah, and Zuni Pueblo lands.
The Executive Director granted a National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), request to extend the NEPA; Section 106; Right-of-Way (BLM); NPS Permit; Right-of-Way (FWS Sevilleta NWR); ESA-FWS; Section 404 final completion dates on December 28, 2023. The Executive Director determination is posted here.
The Executive Director granted a National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), request to extend the NEPA; Section 106; Right-of-Way (BLM); NPS Permit; Right-of-Way (FWS Sevilleta NWR); Section 404 final completion dates on March 28, 2024. The Executive Director determination is posted here.
The Executive Director granted a National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), request to extend the Right-of-Way (BIA) final completion date on June 26, 2024. The Executive Director determination is posted here.
The Executive Director granted a National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), request to extend the NEPA; Section 106; NPS Permit; Right-of-Way (FWS); Right-of-Way (BLM); Right-of-Way (BIA Southern Pueblos Agency); Right-of-Way (BIA Zuni Agency); USACE Section 404 final completion date on July 15, 2024. The Executive Director determination is posted here.
The Executive Director granted a National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) request to extend the NEPA; Section 106; NPS Permit; Right-of-Way (FWS); Right-of-Way (BLM); Right-of-Way (BIA Southern Pueblos Agency); Right-of-Way (BIA Zuni Agency); USACE Section 404 final completion date on December 12, 2024. The Executive Director determination is posted here.
The Executive Director granted a National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) request to extend the Right-of-Way (BIA Ramah Agency); Right-of-Way (BIA Southern Pueblos Agency); and Right-of-Way (BIA Zuni Agency) final completion dates on September 5, 2025. The Executive Director determination is posted here.
Original Target Date: 01/31/2026
Milestone: Final decision/agency action (Agency Action)
Requested extensions greater than 30 days for this Action are shown below:
Final decision/agency action (Agency Action) extended by 271
From: 01/31/2026
To: 10/29/2026