New Mexico Senate passes Broadband for Education bill

The New Mexico state Senate passed SB 401, the Broadband for Education bill, by a vote of 23 to 6. The Broadband for Education bill would transfer the Statewide Education Network (SEN) from the Public School Facilities Authority to the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion. The legislation would move all SEN staff, funds, projects and operations to the state’s broadband office. SB 401 will make SEN run more efficiently, and such a transfer will allow for better broadband resiliency. SEN is currently run by OBAE, so the transfer will be seamless, and the move also provides OBAE with autonomy.