SAIPAN – The CNMI on Wednesday officially executed a Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment subgrant agreement with Micronesian Telecommunications Corp., doing business as IT&E, becoming the second state or territory in the nation to fully execute its BEAD subgrant awards.
The signing took place in the Governor’s Office Conference Room. The agreement commits $31.3 million in federal National Telecommunications and Information Administration BEAD funds, with a nearly $22 million private investment match from IT&E. The 41 percent IT&E match exceeds the 25 percent federal requirement.
The project will deploy a fully underground, end-to-end fiber optic network to approximately 10,000 unserved and underserved locations across all 20 Project Funding Areas on Saipan, Tinian and Rota, the Commonwealth’s Broadband Policy and Development Office said in a press release.
Governor David M. Apatang said the project carries dual importance for immediate disaster recovery and long-term growth.
“Experiencing this recent typhoon highlighted the severe communication challenges we face during emergencies, and fixing that infrastructure is one of our top priorities,” Apatang said. “This historic project will bring high-speed internet to nearly 10,000 homes and community institutions across the CNMI. It’s more than connectivity. It’s a foundation for a diversified digital economy and a stronger Commonwealth.”
Apatang said reliable broadband will enhance healthcare, education, emergency response, tourism, commerce and government services, and will guarantee highly reliable communication when the next disaster strikes.
Glen Hunter, Special Assistant for Broadband Policy and Development, said the signing was about recovery, resilience and rebuilding in a way that breaks the cycle of infrastructure failure after major storms.
“By burying this network, we are protecting our digital lifelines and ensuring our community stays connected when they need it most, before, during, and after the next typhoon,” Hunter said.
BPD said resiliency was the paramount priority when allocating the federal infrastructure funds. The office held the line on a climate-hardened network despite pressure to scale back, noting that copper and fiber on utility poles, towers and aerial antennas remain highly vulnerable to extreme wind, falling trees and corrosion.
IT&E Chief Executive Officer David H. Gibson said the agreement represents the company’s single biggest capital investment.
“Our commitment to the Commonwealth has not wavered,” Gibson said. “This investment actually represents the single biggest capital investment that IT&E has made, period.”
Gibson said the network will be an economic driver and could attract people to relocate to the Commonwealth.
“I truly believe that it’s not only going to be an economic driver, I think it’s also going to be a place where people are going to be attracted to relocate,” Gibson said. “It’s not only right for the people here, but it’s going to be right for future generations.”
Velma Palacios, Senior Director of IT&E CNMI, said the buried infrastructure will deliver service that holds up during disasters.
“Because we have a buried infrastructure, we will continue to, with this project, provide that resilient infrastructure to everybody’s homes, and then everybody will have that access that everybody deserves so that they can be informed, especially during all these disasters,” Palacios said. “IT&E is ready to undertake this project.”
BPD said nearly 300 CNMI residents have already completed the Governor’s Broadband Digital Boot Camp, building a local workforce to support the build-out and ongoing maintenance of the network.
The execution comes against the backdrop of recovery efforts following Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which caused massive damage to aerial networks and left many residents disconnected.
