Lujan Broadband Initiatives Included in House Democrat's Plan to Connect All Americans to Affordable Internet

Statement

Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), the U.S. House Assistant Speaker, secured critical broadband initiatives in House Democrats' plan to connect all Americans to affordable broadband internet and bridge the digital divide as part of a national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This broadband package announced today builds on House Democrats' Moving America Forward Framework, which would provide $760 billion in infrastructure and broadband investments. In New Mexico, less than half of rural New Mexicans have access to high-speed, fixed broadband, which is especially critical to access public health information and resources for students.

Specifically, Congressman Luján's Broadband Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (BIFIA) is included in the plan, which would spur broadband deployment of high-speed internet across the country by making low-interest financing available to communities. The broadband package also includes Congressman Luján's legislation to fund the deployment of Wi-Fi on school buses to address the homework gap that many rural students experience.

"Strong investments in broadband infrastructure have never been more important to bolster the health, safety, and well-being of New Mexicans. This pandemic has laid bare the inequities that exist in our communities -- it is unacceptable that millions of students across the country can't finish their homework assignments at home and that families are unable to access the latest public health information during this crisis," said Luján. "I am proud to have worked with my colleagues to develop this broadband package and make progress toward getting quality, high-speed internet to all New Mexicans. It is far past time that we bridge the digital divide to support our local economies and create new, good-paying jobs."

More information on the broadband plan can be found here.

As communities across New Mexico address the COVID-19 pandemic, Congressman Luján remains engaged in supporting the needs of small businesses, frontline workers, and local, state, and tribal governments.

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