Resound-FW-Southeast
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.