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Tuesday, July 08, 2025The Trumpers Get One Right: State Told To Recognize Satellite Broadband As Solution For Internet-Deprived Households; Move Could Speed Up Access To Rural Households; Improve Education Access The good news comes because of the Trump administration edict that $42 billion in federal broadband funds including $675 million for New Mexico be reworked to include satellite and other nonfiber options: The new criteria includes “technology neutrality,” with no preference for fiber, fixed wireless or low orbit satellite service, as long as it meets performance benchmarks, because “the full force of the competitive marketplace must be utilized,” the policy notice says. The new requirements allow broadband providers to set their own price for a “low-cost option” and no longer prioritize fiber technology. The state Broadband Office and certain legislators have been dragging their feet on satellite, arguing that fiber is faster and more reliable. There has also been intensive lobbying for fiber from the telco companies who are major campaign donors. The most obvious satellite hook-up is via Starlink owned by the polarizing Elon Musk. But in this case he has the technology that can rapidly deploy internet for some of the 40,000 underserved areas in the state, many of them remote households where kids can't get the education they need and deserve because of the lack of broadband. NEW BROADBAND BOSS
New Mexico’s topography means that in some areas, fiber is very difficult and expensive to implement, Lopez said.“I think our previous proposal really provided a lot of clarity on which locations might need an alternate technology in order to provide connectivity quickly and at a low, sometimes substantially lower, cost than fiber would have allowed. Our team is being very good and pragmatic on complying with the new policy guidance from June 6,” Lopez said. Lopez apparently hasn't quite advanced to where he can actually say the word "satellite" but is getting there. (He and his public information officer, Mike Curtis, repeatedly ignored our requests for comment.) Meanwhile, Sen. Lujan still appears locked in a partisan tantrum, taking his loss on the issue this way: Though the broadband office has already opened up its benefit of the bargain round, this new guidance is just another way the Trump administration is delaying New Mexico’s ability to connect New Mexicans to high-speed internet. Talk about gaslighting. It's our congressional delegation's insistence on fiber and that of their Democratic colleagues that has caused the delay in broadband here. But the partisan gridlock has been broken. This time the Trumpers got it right. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. |
  
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