0001| SENATE MEMORIAL 27 | 0002| 43RD LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 1998 | 0003| INTRODUCED BY | 0004| ROMAN M. MAES III | 0005| | 0006| | 0007| | 0008| | 0009| | 0010| A MEMORIAL | 0011| REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE, JUDICIAL AND EXECUTIVE BRANCHES OF | 0012| GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO HAS A STATE- | 0013| OF-THE-ART TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK BY THE YEAR 2001. | 0014| | 0015| WHEREAS, New Mexico is enjoying unprecedented population | 0016| and economic growth that far outstrips the national average, | 0017| yet New Mexico also remains one of the most rural states in | 0018| the union; and | 0019| WHEREAS, this dichotomy presents unique challenges to | 0020| meet and serve the telecommunications needs of a diverse | 0021| population that ranges from nuclear physicists to isolated | 0022| ranchers; and | 0023| WHEREAS, the citizens and government of New Mexico have | 0024| consistently demonstrated their commitment to education and | 0025| schools by providing generous funding and state-of-the-art | - 1 - 0001| learning technologies; and | 0002| WHEREAS, the citizens and government of New Mexico are | 0003| committed to affordable telecommunications service for all New | 0004| Mexicans; and | 0005| WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico has a substantial | 0006| interest in attracting research, education, industry and | 0007| technology at higher and higher levels to ensure that New | 0008| Mexico continues to be the pre-eminent state in the west; and | 0009| WHEREAS, the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 has | 0010| changed the regulatory and competitive environments for | 0011| telecommunications in an effort to promote competition and | 0012| reduce regulation that will secure lower prices and higher | 0013| quality services for American telecommunications consumers and | 0014| encourage rapid deployment of new telecommunications | 0015| technologies; and | 0016| WHEREAS, access to, connection with, and inclusion in the | 0017| rapidly evolving telecommunications network is not a luxury | 0018| but is a necessity if New Mexico is to fulfill its commitment | 0019| to its citizens, businesses and schools; | 0020| NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE | 0021| OF NEW MEXICO that the three branches of the government of the | 0022| state of New Mexico be requested to take all necessary and | 0023| proper steps to ensure that by the year 2001, the state of New | 0024| Mexico has access to all possible informational, technological | 0025| and educational resources through a state-of-the-art | - 2 - 0001| telecommunications network; and | 0002| BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the three branches of the | 0003| government of the state of New Mexico be requested to take all | 0004| necessary and proper steps to ensure universal | 0005| telecommunications service to all citizens of New Mexico; and | 0006| BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the three branches of the | 0007| government of the state of New Mexico be requested to take all | 0008| necessary and proper steps to protect New Mexico consumers by | 0009| ensuring fair and equal application of regulations and rules | 0010| to all telecommunications providers; and | 0011| BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be | 0012| sent to the president pro tempore of the senate, the speaker | 0013| of the house of representatives, the chief justice of the | 0014| supreme court and the governor. | 0015|  |