Resound-FW-Northeast_NM
Resound Networks proposes a Priority Broadband Project that leverages a proven hybrid licensed and unlicensed fixed wireless solution co-developed with Tarana Wireless. This is the very same gigabit-capable technology currently being deployed across New Mexico under Resound’s RDOF, Connect New Mexico, and Student Connect projects. It is not theoretical or proposed—this network is live, operating, and delivering service to tens of thousands of rural broadband serviceable locations (BSLs) in New Mexico and seven other states. Resound’s operational footprint and execution model have already passed FCC audits and are now being applied at scale to BEAD.  The proposed network uses Tarana’s H1 and G2 radio platforms to deliver real-world speeds up to 1 Gbps download and 500 Mbps upload, with consistent latency under 10 milliseconds. These specifications fully meet NTIA’s Priority Broadband Project criteria under the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice. The H1 platform aggregates four 40 MHz channels across licensed CBRS and unlicensed 5 and 6 GHz spectrum. Advanced beamforming, null-forming, and real-time interference cancellation ensure reliable non-line-of-sight performance, even in rural, high-interference, or hilly environments. The G2 platform complements this core architecture by extending service reach in areas where terrain or density makes fiber deployment uneconomical.  This technology is already serving over 43,000 BSLs through Resound’s RDOF obligations. It has passed all mandatory and optional milestone audits, including the 20 percent milestone, and is ahead of schedule for 40 percent completion. It has also been provisionally awarded nearly $23 million in Arkansas and over $200 million across seven states through previous BEAD rounds, covering more than 50,000 additional BSLs. These outcomes validate the maturity, scalability, and credibility of the proposed solution.  Resound’s service tiers include residential and business options scaling up to 1000/500 Mbps. All service plans are uncapped, ensuring consistent performance regardless of geography. A Low-Cost Service Option (LCSO) offering at least 100/20 Mbps with latency under 100 ms is available to all FCC Lifeline-eligible households, in full alignment with the updated BEAD affordability framework. Our rate structure, service tiers, and network performance are already in-market and supporting thousands of active subscribers in rural areas that mirror the conditions of this project.  Although Resound’s hybrid wireless approach offers exceptional capital efficiency, reaching the most remote and underserved regions of New Mexico still requires significant up-front investment. Tower acquisition or construction, middle-mile extensions, and environmental permitting costs remain substantial barriers to private-sector buildout in these high-cost areas. BEAD support is essential to closing that economic gap and ensuring connectivity equity across the state.  Resound will contribute a minimum 25% match to this project, exceeding the federal requirement. This match is provided entirely from internal corporate reserves—no loans, credit facilities, or in-kind offsets are included. This debt-free, cash-backed contribution reflects Resound’s financial strength and simplifies compliance for grant reimbursement. Matching evidence, including source verification and attestation by Resound’s CFO, is included in the application file.  Deployment will be completed within 24 months of award—qualifying for the highest possible score under the Speed to Deployment rubric. Our construction and activation schedule follows a phased model:   Phase 1 (Months 1–6): Tower site validation, equipment engineering, permitting, and middle-mile path review.   Phase 2 (Months 7–14): Tower construction, radio deployment, and core network integration.   Phase 3 (Months 15–24): CPE installation, final link activation, and subscriber onboarding across all unserved BSLs.    A professional engineer licensed in New Mexico has reviewed and certified the deployment plan, cost models, and project schedule as technically feasible and congruent.  To ensure technical sustainability, each tower is engineered with dual-path backhaul—typically fiber as primary with a licensed wireless or high-capacity point-to-point backup. Power redundancy is standard, including battery banks and generator-ready systems. Equipment is housed in weather-hardened, modular enclosures with hot-swap capability for rapid disaster recovery. These practices mirror those used in our RDOF and Connect New Mexico builds and have been battle-tested across diverse environmental conditions.  The network architecture is 5G-ready, software-defined, and engineered for modular expansion. Tarana’s forthcoming H2 radios, for example, will double sector capacity without requiring CPE replacement. All tower agreements include multi-RAD center access, enabling expansion without new zoning or structural permitting. This ensures headroom for capacity growth as user demands evolve and further public access initiatives—such as digital equity programs or telehealth hubs—are layered onto the infrastructure.  From a financial sustainability perspective, the project is modeled to reach breakeven by Year 3. We assume a conservative monthly churn of 1% and a minimum take-rate of 80%, based on adoption performance in our current rural markets. Residential average revenue per user (ARPU) is $68/month, and business ARPU is $112/month, held flat in early years and escalated slightly thereafter to account for inflation. Operating expenses average $15.80/subscriber/month and decline with scale. Shared NOC infrastructure, procurement leverage, and regional field staff reduce per-unit costs across the multi-state network.  Resound’s middle-mile model is designed to maximize availability and minimize upgrade friction. We prioritize tower locations with multigigabit wave or fiber access and engage middle-mile partners with committed fiber extension plans to ensure we can meet capacity targets from day one. For locations without suitable existing towers, our vertical infrastructure partners are ready to build to our specifications, with zoning, permitting, and structural studies pre-negotiated.  Finally, Resound’s ability to efficiently reuse spectrum is a major sustainability advantage. Through intelligent frequency planning and the interference-aware design of the H1 and G2 platforms, we routinely reuse the same channel plan across radios on the same tower, achieving high spectral efficiency without self-interference. This allows us to scale capacity and density without acquiring additional spectrum licenses or overhauling our base network.  In conclusion, this project represents the continuation of a live, operational, and federally validated broadband expansion model. Resound’s hybrid wireless technology has already proven capable of delivering gigabit service to rural America—and New Mexico specifically—under multiple federal and state programs. Our BEAD proposal builds on that track record, combining technical performance, financial resilience, and rapid deployment to deliver equitable broadband access across some of the state’s most unserved communities.