How satellite tech could help New Mexicans get good internet

Nov. 20—Between state and federal programs aiming to get all New Mexicans reliable, high-speed internet access, there are still about 95,000 households left out of the mix. State broadband officials are looking for legislatively allocated dollars to fill the gap.

And how would they use the money to fill the gap? Satellite technology.

Nearly 100,000 households aren’t eligible for federal broadband programs, a gap that state-provided vouchers and subsidies for satellite high-speed internet services could help address, said Drew Lovelace, acting director of the state’s Office of Broadband Access and Expansion.

His office on Tuesday asked for $70 million before the Legislative Finance Committee to accelerate the Connect New Mexico Fund, which aims to enhance connectivity for all New Mexicans.

Satellite internet technology would particularly boost access in rural and hard-to-reach areas of New Mexico while the state waits for more reliable broadband technology deployment, according to the broadband office.

The office would prioritize unserved areas — locations with 25 megabits per second, or mbps, download and 3 mbps upload speeds or less — and underserved areas — locations with between 25 mbps/3mbps and 100 mbps download and 20 mbps upload speeds.

Lovelace proposed household vouchers for necessary hardware for satellite internet services and $30 monthly subsidies for low-income households to ease their $120 monthly internet bills.

The broadband office’s one-time expenditure ask of $70 million would make sure “New Mexicans don’t get left behind in the digital divide today” while also still looking toward the future, Lovelace said.

The satellite vouchers and subsidies, if the appropriation request is approved in the 2025 Legislature and by the governor, would likely start at the earliest next year.

The overall budget request for the broadband office for fiscal year 2026 is just over $3 million, which is a $650,0000 increase from the previous fiscal year, according to the broadband office.

Overall, Lovelace said, broadband is infrastructure and needs to be funded longer term.

“My big ask coming out of this is that we no longer get one- and two-year appropriations, that we look at three- to five-year appropriations and make sure that we can do the entire grant cycle,” he said.