New Mexico
Feds approve $675M to expand internet access in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Monday that New Mexico will get $675 million in federal grant funding to expand internet access.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration greenlit the funding Monday. Now, the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion can begin the grant application process. The OBAE is inviting local governments, tribal communities, nonprofits, internet service providers and electric cooperatives to apply and work together to expand access.
Officials hope to connect tens of thousands of New Mexico households to the internet for the first time.
“The Governor’s office and our team are elated and grateful for the NTIA’s approval,” said Drew Lovelace, the acting director of OBAE in a news release issued Monday. “In today’s world, high-speed internet is not a luxury but a necessity. Ensuring access to broadband in rural and hard-to-reach areas means New Mexicans will gain access to essential services like telehealth and distance learning. And communities will enjoy greater economic opportunities.”
The New Mexico state government must now submit a final proposal within a year. The proposal will then detail the chosen sub-grantees and funding strategies for delivering broadband to unserved and underserved areas. They define these locations as “lacking broadband speeds of at least 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload.”
Once the NTIA signs off on the final proposal, then construction can begin on the broadband infrastructure.
Federal and state data estimates that 16% of New Mexico’s 873,797 locations are either unserved or underserved. Data shows around 70,609 locations are completely unserved and another 72,384 are underserved.
According to the OBAE, they’ve made gains with programs like the Connect NM Pilot Program. Officials say those initiatives are working to bring high-speed internet to over 45,000 locations across the state.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is hosting its first-ever birding contest, open to all skill levels, running throughout 2026.
Curt Coffman from the department said, “New Mexico is number four in the nation for the number of bird species we have identified over 550 birds in this state.”
The contest, called the 2026 New Mexico Birding Big Year, began on Jan. 1. Participants can register online until April and must use the eBird app to log their sightings.
“Whether you’re a beginner or you are a seasoned, advanced birder. This is a contest for anybody,” Coffman said.
Coffman shared that someone has already spotted over 200 species in less than two weeks. The grand prize is still being determined, but the contest aims to encourage exploration of New Mexico.
Coffman mentioned that in Albuquerque alone, one could identify 50 to 100 species.
For details on how to join the contest, click here.
SANTA FE, N.M. — A New Mexico state lawmaker is introducing legislation to protect people in New Mexico from the “dangers of AI.”
Attorney General Raúl Torrez joined state Rep. Linda Serrato, D-N.M., to announce the proposed legislation. It is aimed at protecting people from the dangers associated with artificial intelligence.
“Generative AI has incredible potential, but it also poses serious risks when used to deceive, defame, or exploit individuals,” said Torrez.
Serrato emphasized the need for state-level action, saying, “The federal government has failed to provide leadership on this emerging technology.”
Key provisions include mandatory disclosure of synthetic content, free provenance detection tools, and penalties up to $15,000 per violation. Enhanced sentencing is also proposed for felonies involving AI.
The announcement of this legislation comes just days after NMDOJ agents arrested a man accused of using AI apps to turn innocuous photos of children into sexually-explicit images of them.
MORE: Man arrested for using AI apps to create child porn
During the 2025 session, Democratic state Rep. Christine Chandler introduced a bill to establish new regulations for certain AI tools, such as those that create “deepfake” images that falsely portray people in certain ways. The bill would require companies to disclose the use of those types of AI.
MORE: Regulation for artificial intelligence proposed at legislature
The House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee recommended passing the bill – but it died in the House Judiciary Committee. Chandler pre-filed similar legislation for this year’s session:
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