New Mexico senate proposes $10M bill to help residents in need get broadband

"New Mexico's Low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program (LITAP) took a key step toward becoming law Friday 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."

""Our mission is more than delivering broadband to rural and remote parts of the state," Jeff Lopez, the director of the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE), said in a press release. "It is critical that New Mexico families be able to afford high-speed internet. This bill will provide discounts to ensure that income doesn't deter New Mexicans from getting access to broadband.""

Senate Bill 152 would allocate $10 million to New Mexico's Low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program (LITAP) to subsidize broadband for as many as 27,000 low-income residents. The funding is drawn from the Public Regulation Commission's State Rural Universal Service Fund, which has $40 million earmarked for broadband. The measure, introduced by Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla and cosponsored by Representatives Pamelya Herndon and Debra Sariñana, now advances to the House Appropriations & Finance Committee. Jeff Lopez, director of the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion, said discounts are necessary so income does not deter New Mexicans from obtaining high-speed internet. Similar low-cost plans have varied across states.

Read at Telecompetitor