Commentary: Santa Fe, NM – Today the House of Representatives unanimously passed Senate Bill 308 by Senator Michael Padilla which would reform the Universal Service Fund to help facilitate the development of broadband infrastructure and the expansion of high-speed internet across underserved New Mexican communities.
Senate Bill 308 creates a dedicated broadband fund from the existing Universal Service Fund to make broadband attainable for all New Mexico families. The Universal Service Fund was originally created to provide telephone service to rural parts of New Mexico where doing so would come at high costs.
The legislation would set aside 60% of the state’s current Universal Service Fund and dedicate it to a broadband fund for rural New Mexico. The legislation also creates a more predictable revenue stream for the fund by changing the surcharge mechanism from a percentage-base to a flat fee.
“New Mexico families and the businesses they depend on can no longer make do without access to high-speed internet,” said Senator Michael Padilla. “Senate Bill 308 reflects the understanding of all stakeholders that the Universal Service Fund can and must adapt to the changing telecommunications needs of communities across New Mexico.”
During the interim, Senator Padilla chaired a meeting of the Science, Technology, and Telecommunications Committee focused on expanding broadband in New Mexico. At the hearing, Senator Padilla heard from stakeholders about the need to find innovative ways to deliver connectivity to all New Mexicans including the 68% of New Mexicans living in rural and tribal communities that currently lack access to broadband.
The legislation has the support of all members of the New Mexico Exchange Carrier Group, the unanimous support of the Public Regulation Commission, and all of New Mexico’s broadband providers.