Hear what NM is doing to get internet to everyone at broadband conference next week

New Mexicans next week have a chance to learn about what state, tribal and federal officials are doing to get reliable, high-speed internet to everyone in New Mexico.

The second annual New Mexico Broadband Summit is happening Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Isleta Resort and Casino. The full-day event features discussions and panels on state and federal broadband programs, permitting, legislative updates, financing sources and match funding, construction on rural and tribal projects and digital equity.

Drew Lovelace is the acting director of the state’s Office of Broadband Access and Expansion. He told the Journal he wants the conference to bring together all the major broadband players in the state, from internet service providers to government entities.

“Holistically, I want the internet service providers, I want the vendors, I want the local government officials, all to actually be building relationships and talking to each other to meet the demands of what New Mexicans need, which is safe, reliable, affordable broadband,” he said.

The New Mexico Chamber of Commerce sponsored the conference last year and is sponsoring it again this year. Alison Riley is the director of public policy at the Chamber. She said the conference will offer state, tribal and federal perspectives on broadband.

“It's a significant event that's bringing together industry experts and government leaders to address the most critical topics,” she said.

Riley, who previously worked for the state’s broadband office, said New Mexico broadband is an important aspect of site readiness and getting companies to choose New Mexico.

“It's no longer a luxury, as I used to say when I worked there; it's essential. It's like electricity or water. It's something that you need to survive,” she said.

A major undergoing at the state broadband office has been pursuing $675 million through the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment, or BEAD, program. In July, New Mexico got permission to kick off the grant application process following approval of a proposal to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

“This is a once in a lifetime investment, and we want to make sure we leverage it as best as possible,” Lovelace said.

Lovelace said the broadband office has completed its challenge process and received public comment, and it’s now working with the NTIA to finalize the last few details on a map that shows all the served, underserved and unserved broadband locations in New Mexico.

Previous versions of the map were largely inaccurate, and Lovelace said he’d be the first to say it’s still not perfect. But, he said, it has majorly improved.

“We've done significant work to get it as close to correct as we can, and certainly as we move forward to other programs in the future, we'll continue to make it better,” he said.

He said the state has also opened its prequalification portal to look at potential applicants’ financials and qualify them to be an applicant.

Lovelace described the demand for broadband as climbing and escalating “at an almost exponential curve.” He pointed to devices like cars or refrigerators that are starting to use the internet, and said the demand isn’t just about cell phones and computers anymore.

Riley agreed that demand is rising and said there are too many people that either don’t have access at all to internet or don’t have access to quality, high-speed internet.

“The needs are only going to get greater as time progresses,” she said.

The deadline to register for the conference is Friday. Registration, which costs $75, can be completed online at https://business.nmchamber.org/events/details/2024-broadband-summit-92.