New Mexico Broadband Office Proposes $10 Million for Broadband Affordability

The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) announced legislation to authorize $10 million in broadband funding to help low-income families afford broadband service. State Senate Bill 152 was introduced by Sen Majority Whip Michael Padilla (D-NM) and prepared by OBAE in consultation with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC). The funding would come from the State Rural Universal Service Fund, which, by current statute, has $40 million specifically earmarked for broadband programs. The legislation is called the “Low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program (LITAP).”