HOUSE MEMORIAL 30

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Matthew McQueen

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOP AN ANALYSIS OF BROADBAND GAPS AND DEFICIENCIES AND TO DEVISE A SPECIFIC ACTION PLAN TO COORDINATE ACTIVITIES TOWARD THE DEPLOYMENT OF BROADBAND TO SPECIFIC TARGETS ACROSS THE STATE.

     WHEREAS, high-speed broadband is vital to the education of New Mexico's children; and

     WHEREAS, access to broadband is important to the health, public safety and welfare of New Mexicans; and

     WHEREAS, many New Mexico communities lack high-speed access to the internet; and

     WHEREAS, there are many funding opportunities available to help deliver broadband to needed areas; and

     WHEREAS, there are private, public, nonprofit and cooperative entities that provide broadband services throughout the state; and

     WHEREAS, the federal government provides funding for broadband deployment through the United States department of agriculture, the United States department of commerce and the United States department of homeland security; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico should exhaust all funding sources available to address critical broadband needs; and

     WHEREAS, a targeted strategic plan is needed to match broadband funding sources with specific needs; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico should engage in an action plan to address broadband gaps and deficiencies;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of information technology be requested to develop an analysis of broadband gaps and deficiencies and to devise a specific action plan to coordinate activities toward the deployment of broadband to specific targets across the state of New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of information technology be requested to develop a specific list of communities, institutions and areas in need of broadband improvements, including the estimated cost and funding sources for the improvements; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of information technology be requested to coordinate efforts to deploy broadband to targeted areas by working with funders and local entities, to provide a timeline for the improvements to be made, to establish benchmarks and goals for the projects and to report its progress to the appropriate interim legislative committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of information technology.

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