A. The "connect New Mexico fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of appropriations, gifts, grants and donations. Money in the fund is subject to appropriation by the legislature to the council for the purpose of administering the broadband grant program. Disbursements from the fund shall be made upon warrants drawn by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the chair of the council. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance in the fund remaining at the end of any fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.
B. The council shall implement the broadband grant program to develop, expand and support digital inclusion; provided that the council shall each year seek to award grants for proposals submitted by the following entities throughout the state:
(1) local governments;
(2) state agencies;
(3) public educational institutions;
(4) tribal governments; and
(5) entities created by a joint powers agreement pursuant to the Joint Powers Agreements Act [11-1-1 to 11-1-7 NMSA 1978].
C. When approving grants from the connect New Mexico fund, the council shall give consideration to:
(1) the extent to which the project connects unserved and underserved populations of New Mexico, with priority given to projects that will connect unserved populations;
(2) the extent to which the project meets or exceeds the baseline standards established by the federal communications commission;
(3) the extent to which the project leverages existing infrastructure;
(4) the extent to which the project complements or coordinates with the statewide broadband plan;
(5) the extent to which the project leverages regional collaboration;
(6) the degree to which the project fosters digital inclusion;
(7) the extent to which the project stimulates in-state economic development, including the creation of jobs and apprenticeships; and
(8) the extent to which the project leverages in-kind or financial support from local agencies or entities, federal assistance funding or federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 or federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding.
History: Laws 2021, ch. 120, § 6.
Effective dates. — Laws 2021, ch. 120, § 10 made Laws 2021, ch. 120, § 6 effective July 1, 2021.