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Committee advances bill to create New Mexico broadband affordability program while opponents urge ending legacy ARS funding
Summary
The House Appropriations & Finance Committee gave a do-pass recommendation for Senate Bill 152, which would create a state low‑income broadband subsidy and restructure State Rural Universal Service Fund allocations; opponents asked that legacy ARS payments be allowed to sunset and redirected to affordability and broadband deployment.
Senate Bill 152, sponsored in the hearing by Senator Michael Padilla, would establish a state low‑income telecommunications assistance program and restructure the State Rural Universal Service Fund to fund both affordability and rural operations. Padilla told the committee SB152 sets an initial affordability cap of $10 million the first year, with the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) authorized to increase the program up to $45 million in subsequent years, and keeps $18 million for rural operations and maintenance and $12 million for continued broadband expansion.
Jeff Lopez, director of the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion, told the committee the legislation is modeled on the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provided up to $30 monthly subsidies and additional support until federal funding ended in 2024. Lopez said today’s primary barrier to household…
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