New Mexico Senate proposes $10 million bill to help residents in need get broadband

New Mexico’s Low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program (LITAP) took a key step toward becoming law on February 13 with its unanimous passage by the State Senate. Senate Bill 152 would provide $10 million in funding to help as many as 27,000 low-income residents in need in New Mexico get broadband. The funding will come from the Public Regulation Commission’s State Rural Universal Service Fund. That fund has $40 million earmarked for broadband funding. The legislation—introduced by Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla (D-NM) and cosponsored by State Representatives Pamelya Herndon (D-NM) and Debra Sariñana (D-NM)—now moves to the state’s House, where it will be overseen by the Appropriations & Finance Committee.