ALBUQUERQUE \u2013 New Mexico has the highest percentage of residents in the U.S. Southwest without adequate broadband internet service, a problem highlighted last week by the Biden administration as it looked to infuse more than $2 trillion into infrastructure projects nationwide.<\/p>\n
The administration released details about each state\u2019s needs for everything from internet access to highways, affordable housing and drinking water projects.<\/p>\n
In New Mexico, the federal government estimates that 22% of residents live in areas where there\u2019s no broadband infrastructure that provides acceptable internet speeds. Nearly 70% are in areas where there\u2019s only one such internet provider.<\/p>\n
The coronavirus pandemic highlighted connectivity problems over the past year as schools turned to remote learning and other services were forced to go online only.<\/p>\n
About one in five New Mexico households do not have an internet subscription, according to the administration\u2019s summary.<\/p>\n
Around the Southwest, the percentages of households without subscriptions are much lower \u2014 ranging from around 9% in Utah and Colorado to 13% in Arizona and 14% in Nevada.<\/p>\n
Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, a New Mexico Democrat who chairs a congressional subcommittee that has been focusing on the digital divide, recently introduced legislation with Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina that would reimburse schools for installing Wi-Fi on buses.<\/p>\n
Luj\u00e1n also introduced a measure that would authorize $5 billion for a program that makes low-interest financing available for broadband infrastructure projects.<\/p>\n
Luj\u00e1n said at a hearing last month that the goal should be \u201c100% connectivity\u201d with fast, affordable internet nationwide. He told the story of a New Mexico middle school student who had to sit in the sun all day to connect to Wi-Fi and ended up with heatstroke.<\/p>\n
Luj\u00e1n told The Associated Press in an email Monday that bridging the divide, tackling the homework gap and promoting digital equity are longstanding priorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cBroadband has quickly become an essential utility, making it possible for students to learn, doctors to provide life-saving care, and businesses to keep their doors open during this pandemic,\u201d he said. \u201cSadly, in too many communities across our state, we\u2019re falling short of connecting every New Mexican.\u201d<\/p>\n
The needs outlined by the Biden administration indicate a massive backlog after years of deferred and delayed repairs. Most states received a letter grade on their infrastructure, with the highest grade of C-plus going to Georgia and Utah.<\/p>\n
New Mexico did not get a grade, but the summary indicated that its 207 bridges and more than 3,800 miles of highway are in poor condition and costing drivers $767 per year on average.<\/p>\n
In the next two decades, New Mexico\u2019s drinking water infrastructure will require an estimated $1.4 billion in new funding. More than half of residents live where child care is hard to find, and 126,000 renters are spending more than 30% of their income on rent due to a lack of affordable housing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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