Bill to Facilitate Broadband Infrastructure Development Heads to Governor’s Desk
Santa Fe, NM – Today, the Senate passed House Bill 60 by Representative Carl Trujillo and Senator Jacob Candelaria to spur broadband development across the state and significantly reduce the costs of new broadband network construction through partnerships between local governments and broadband providers.
The bill creates a ‘dig once’ policy for the state of New Mexico, allowing cities, counties and the state to keep an open trench and place conduit needed for new broadband infrastructure. The bill would also enable the use of Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) funds by the state, municipalities, and counties for trenching and conduit placement needed for broadband development.
“Broadband expansion is an economic imperative for our state and we have a responsibility to do everything we can to make it easier for local governments and providers to bring this tool to homes and businesses across New Mexico,” said Senator Jacob Candelaria. “This is a common-sense policy that facilitates collaboration among stakeholders and decreases barriers to broadband deployment needed to attract businesses and pull our state out of the jobs crisis we are facing.”
The is the first non-appropriations bill to make its way to Governor Martinez’s desk to be signed. The bill was endorsed by the New Mexico Legislative Jobs Council and was supported by the New Mexico Technology Council, Association of Commerce and Industry, and broadband providers statewide.
