Udall, Lujan Join Clyburn to Talk New Mexico Broadband Deployment

on tribal land and throughout rural New Mexico,” said House Communications Subcommittee member Ben Ray Lujan. Lack of broadband access “puts too many New Mexicans at a disadvantage,” Sen. Tom Udall said. “As a member of the Senate Appropriations and Commerce committees, I'm fighting to ensure that no matter where you live, all New Mexicans can access reliable high speed broadband for business, health care, education and everyday communication.” Udall, Lujan and Clyburn “joined approximately 50 representatives from New Mexico telecommunications companies and rural telephone cooperatives to discuss efforts and challenges to expanding broadband access in rural communities and tribal lands across New Mexico,” a news release from the lawmakers said. It said after the roundtable, Luján and Clyburn traveled to Torreon, New Mexico, to "highlight the importance of the Lifeline program and efforts to modernize it to support broadband," and then to Crownpoint to visit Navajo Technical University to discuss the need to expand broadband access in tribal communities. Clyburn said the visit is part of her Connecting Communities tour: “We must be ever-vigilant in our attempts to close the digital and opportunities divide. With 21st century communications technologies, we can, with more ease and precision, greatly improve health outcomes for those currently without ready access to healthcare facilities; provide more immersive and comprehensive learning experiences for children and adults alike; increase civic engagement; and open up new avenues for people to find the jobs and acquire the skills needed to work in an internet economy.”