SAIPAN — IT&E Chief Executive Officer David Gibson is calling the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s approval of the Commonwealth’s broadband plan a major step forward for the CNMI’s digital future.
NTIA recently approved the CNMI’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Final Proposal, unlocking federal funds to support universal, typhoon-resilient broadband infrastructure across the islands.
“NTIA’s approval marks a major milestone in the CNMI’s digital future. This federally funded grant not only expands access to affordable, high-quality internet—it also delivers the hardened digital infrastructure needed to support a next-generation economy. Once completed, the CNMI will be the only U.S. state or territory with 100% underground fiber-optic service to every location,” Gibson said. “On behalf of everyone here at IT&E, I am honored to be part of the CNMI’s next chapter.”
IT&E was selected as the broadband deployment partner under the CNMI’s BEAD plan, which centers on underground fiber builds designed to improve resilience, reliability, and long-term service quality for homes and businesses across the Commonwealth.
