Signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Connect New Mexico Council as a co-coordinator of state broadband programs with the department of information technology or a state broadband planning entity established by other law.

Highlights:

• Defines “department” as the Department of Information Technology (Sec. 2.D).

• Defines "commission" as the public regulation commission (Sec. 8.E).

• Establishes the "connect New Mexico council" and administratively attaches it to the department (Sec. 3.A).

• Requires the council to do the following (Sec. 4):

• In consultation with the department, coordinate state agency broadband programs, and broadband projects following the statewide broadband plan;

• Evaluate and prioritize grant proposals and make grant awards from the connect New Mexico fund; and

• Adopt rules establishing a competitive grant program to receive funds from the connect New Mexico fund.

• Requires the council to implement the broadband grant program to develop, expand and support digital inclusion; provided that the council shall each year seek to award grants for proposals submitted by the following entities throughout the state (Sec. 6.B):

• Local governments;

• State agencies;

• Public educational institutions.

• Tribal governments; and

• Entities created by a joint powers agreement according to the Joint Powers Agreements Act.

• Requires the department to provide to the appropriate legislative interim committees a report on the access to and quality of service of broadband across the state. Information will be provided on a county-by-county basis (Sec. 7.A).

• Requires the commission to implement and maintain a "state rural universal service fund" to maintain and support universal service that is provided by eligible telecommunications carriers, including commercial mobile radio services carriers, as are determined by the commission (Sec. 9.A).

• Authorizes the commission to consider at least the following items in making a public interest finding (Sec. 9.E):

• The impact of designation of an additional eligible carrier on the size of the fund;

• The unique advantages and disadvantages of the competitor's service offering; and

• Any commitments made regarding the quality of telephone service.

• Requires the commission to adopt rules that create and implement a broadband program to provide funding to eligible telecommunications carriers for the construction and maintenance of broadband infrastructure. Each year, a minimum of $8,000,000 of the fund will be dedicated to the broadband program (Sec. 9.N).

Full Bill Text