[1st-mile-nm] NM Legislature: NM Tech Council

[Richard Lowenberg]

NMTC Policy Update

Forwarded from the NM Tech Council:

The 2017 New Mexico Legislative Session has come to a close, and though 
we are still awaiting bills to be signed by Governor Martinez, we would 
like to provide you with a few updates.

NMTC monitored and supported several pieces of legislation during the 
session, and many of those bills are now on the Governor’s desk or have 
been signed into law. The Governor has until April 7th to sign 
legislation. We will keep you updated as we have further updates. Below 
are some of the bills we are currently watching.

SIGNED LEGISLATION INTO LAW

House Bill 60 (Broadband Infrastructure): Adds infrastructure for new 
broadband telecommunications network facilities to the definition of 
“economic development project” eligible for funding in the Local 
Economic Development Act.

House Bill 113 (CIO to develop Statewide Broadband Network): Requires 
the state’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) (Department of Information 
Technology, DoIT) to develop and maintain a statewide, multipurpose, 
high-capacity scalable telecommunications and broadband network to meet 
the demand of state agencies, political subdivisions and educational 
institutions. The mandate is to be undertaken in partnership with the 
Public Education Department, Higher Education Department, political 
subdivisions, state universities and other educational institutions.

AWAITING SIGNATURE ON GOVERNOR’S DESK

House Bill 147 (Workforce Training Residency Requirement): Reduces the 
residency requirement for trainees in the Workforce Development Training 
Program, so long as high-wage jobs are guaranteed after the training 
ends

Senate Bill 53 (PRC Jurisdiction over Local Exchanges "Telecom 
Modernization"): Offers critically needed changes in the regulatory 
environment of telecommunications and allows telecom companies to invest 
more dollars toward new technologies and services, like broadband

Senate Bill 63 (Education Technology Improvement Uses): Clarifies the 
types of education technology improvements that constitute allowable 
capital improvements under the Public School Capital Improvements Act 
and the Public School Buildings Act.

Senate Bill 308 (PRC to facilitate rural broadband service): Amends a 
section of the Rural Telecommunications Act of New Mexico to update 
State Rural Universal Service Fund provisions and establish a broadband 
program administered by the Public Regulation Commission to facilitate 
expansion of broadband service in rural areas.


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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
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