SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 4

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Jacob R. Candelaria and Debbie A. Rodella

FOR THE NEW MEXICO FINANCE AUTHORITY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT A TASK FORCE CONVENE TO STUDY APPROPRIATE WAYS FOR THE STATE TO PARTICIPATE IN BUILDING BROADBAND NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE.

     WHEREAS, digital communications comprise an ever-growing proportion of day-to-day educational and commercial interactions; and

     WHEREAS, increasingly, people's upward educational and economic mobility correlates to the degree of their access to a broadband communications network; and

     WHEREAS, if all people in New Mexico had access to a broadband network, their opportunities for educational and economic advancement would grow and the state would develop economically; and

     WHEREAS, some New Mexicans cannot access broadband technology because of deficiencies in network infrastructure; and

     WHEREAS, many parts of the state lack network infrastructure because it is not profitable for the private sector to develop that infrastructure in those regions; and

     WHEREAS, the state should play an active role in developing underserved and unserved areas by forging broadband network connections where they currently need strengthening or where they do not exist; and

     WHEREAS, several of New Mexico's universities are working with communities and collaborating with public utilities and commercial providers to improve the state's public broadband network;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that a task force be requested to study the appropriate role of the state in building broadband infrastructure so that all New Mexicans have access to a broadband network; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be composed of a representative of the legislative finance committee; a representative of the science, technology and telecommunications committee; a representative of the New Mexico finance authority; and experts in broadband technology infrastructure who represent the university of New Mexico, New Mexico state university and the New Mexico institute of mining and technology; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico legislative council appoint the legislative members of the working group; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative finance committee, the science, technology and telecommunications committee and the New Mexico finance authority oversight committee be requested to hear testimony and receive recommendations from the task force and other experts in broadband technology; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the information technology departments and the boards of regents of the university of New Mexico, New Mexico state university and the New Mexico institute of mining and technology.

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