New Mexico

Nearly 3,000 locations, including homes, businesses, and farms in Truth or Consequences and Williamsburg (NM), now have access to high-speed fiber internet following the completion of a broadband infrastructure project funded by New Mexico's Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE). OBAE awarded Ethos Broadband an $8.5 million grant through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Capital Projects Fund to build nearly 50 miles of fiber in Truth or Consequences. The project will connect 2,932 unserved and underserved locations.

Attorney General Raúl Torrez (D-NM) spent his early days as a prosecutor rooting out sex crimes and child exploitation in the darkest corners of the internet. That experience helped him prevail over Meta after a jury ordered the company to pay $375 million for failing to protect kids from sex predators. His victory represents a significant moment for kids’ online safety advocates.

State legislatures across the country are recognizing that good broadband adoption is vital for a robust economy and have tackled or are considering plans to make broadband more affordable. The Oregon legislature passed HB 3148, which strengthens support for low-income broadband customers.

The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion is calling on the federal government to release $293 million in remaining funds from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program to support broadband connectivity across the state. The federal government had allocated $675 million in BEAD funding for New Mexico in 2023. After the National Telecommunications and Information Administration approved New Mexico's $382 million broadband infrastructure BEAD proposal—which will connect more than 42,500 unserved and underserved locations in 32 of 33 counties—$293 million remained.

New Mexico announced that its affordable broadband bill was signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. The bill makes $10 million available to help low-income families afford broadband. The bill passed the New Mexico House by a vote of 48-14 on February 19, just two days after the bill passed the state Senate. “This law sends a clear message that all New Mexicans deserve access to broadband despite their income,” said New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion Director Jeff Lopez in a statement about the bill’s signing.

A broadband affordability bill designed to help as many as 27,000 low-income New Mexicans receive high-speed internet is now on its way to the governor’s desk. The New Mexico House passed Senate Bill 152, which would establish the Low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program. The House vote was 48-14. SB 152 authorizes $10 million in broadband funding to help low-income families afford broadband service.

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.

The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) announced six grants to implement or expand public Wi-Fi service across New Mexico. Two cities, two counties, a university, and an internet service provider received awards through OBAE’s Community Connect Grant Program, designed to expand free Wi-Fi in public places, such as plazas, parks, and municipal buildings.  The six awardees receiving a total of $6.72 million in Community Connect grants include:

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce has approved 50 out of 56 Final Proposals from states and territories to ensure universal broadband access through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. “I am thrilled to announce that NTIA has approved 50 out of 56 Final BEAD Proposals,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth.

The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) launched a statewide workforce program that will offer internationally recognized certifications to prepare New Mexicans for high-paying jobs in the growing broadband industry. The classes and workshops will begin this February and will be free to participants, paid for by the U.S. Congress and administered by OBAE. OBAE has contracted with Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI), which will provide lab equipment, workbooks, tools and all teaching equipment.