SAIPAN — Governor David M. Apatang announced the CNMI has received and executed its official Notice of Award from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, according to a release from the Office of the Governor.
The release said NTIA transmitted the signed Notice of Award on Nov. 29, 2025.
Apatang’s announcement follows NTIA’s Nov. 19 approval of the CNMI BEAD Final Proposal, which CNMI officials said cleared the way for a universal, typhoon-resilient fiber buildout to every home and business and moved the Commonwealth from planning into full-scale execution.
With the award executed, the governor’s release said CNMI can move forward with an $81 million broadband program supported by nearly $22 million in private matching funds, shifting from planning into construction of a “climate-resilient, fiber-first network” with underground fiber reaching nearly 10,000 locations across the CNMI.
“This historic project will bring high-speed internet to nearly 10,000 homes and community institutions across the CNMI,” Apatang said.
In the Nov. 19 update, CNMI’s Broadband Policy and Development (BPD) Office said NTIA approved the BEAD Final Proposal and that total investment for network deployment through the BEAD subgrant partnership exceeds $53 million, including $31,365,227.18 in federal funds and $21,931,951.14 in committed private matching funds from the selected subgrantee. The BPD update said approval was delivered by Federal Program Officer Ethan Lake, and that CNMI is among the first group of states and territories to secure NTIA approval, alongside American Samoa and Guam.
The Nov. 19 report also said the plan adopts an underground-first approach to harden infrastructure against typhoons and power instability. Through a “Benefit of the Bargain” subgrant selection round, IT&E was selected to deploy underground fiber across all project funding areas, a plan CNMI officials said would save more than $50 million compared to early projections while meeting performance and resilience targets. Under the plan described in that update, the subgrantee is required to complete deployment and begin serving customers within four years of the subgrant award, and CNMI’s stated objective is universal broadband availability by 2030.
The governor’s release said that with the Notice of Award now executed, BPD will begin next-step actions including signing subgrant agreements with selected providers, completing required environmental and historic preservation reviews, and issuing Notices to Proceed so construction can begin.
The Nov. 19 update also said funds from the $81 million BEAD allocation not required for network deployment remain unallocated pending federal guidance, and that CNMI leaders are seeking to retain remaining funds for non-deployment uses that support broadband access and adoption, including cybersecurity, digital education, digital workforce development, data center development, AI advancements, and related priorities.
