​New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE)
​Events Archive 2024​

2024 Legislative Session

Drew Lovelace, acting director of New Mexico's Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE), discusses the release of a report on broadband access. The memo outlines three priorities for the upcoming session: securing operating budget support, passing SB43 to streamline broadband deployment, and transferring the State Education Network program to OBAE through SB45. Reliable internet access is crucial for education, healthcare, and business.
Access the full memo here.
​​Dive deeper into our Data and Mapping Hub here for further insights.​
Click the buttons below to download the 2024 Broadband Legislative Packets.
Download PDF
Broadband Day at the Roundhouse 2024
​Wednesday, January 24, 2024
The New Mexico State Capitol
490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501
​
Check out information tables, listen to educational presentations, learn about broadband programs and initiatives, and connect with broadband leaders, advocates and lawmakers from across the state. Explore how broadband affects all aspects of our life in New Mexico and learn more about statewide efforts to "Connect New Mexico." 

​​9am-10am Broadband Presentations in the Rotunda
Opening & Update from OBAE
  • Introduction of OBAE Team
  • NTIA and Federal initiatives
  • Introduce Tables in the East and West Wings
  • PED and Digital Learning Day
  • SFCC Broadband Videos
​
11:30-12noon Special Announcements in the Rotunda
New Mexico Aging and Long-term Services Department

12noon-1pm Broadband Presentations in the Rotunda
  • Recognition
    • New Mexico Legislators and Ladies of 7
    • Connect New Mexico Council
    • Connect New Mexico Working Groups
  • Broadband Jedi Awards
    • ​Kimball Sekaquaptewa, Santa Fe Indian School & CNM Council
    • Godfrey Enjady
    • Stephine Poston
    • Jerry Smith
    • Eli Guinnee
    • Catherine Nicolaou (not present)
    • Ovidiu Viorica
  • Project Managers and Highlights
    • Richard Govea and Highlight from Valencia County
  • Additional Recognition
    • ​​ SFCC Media Crew: Jeremiah Vigil, ​Kyla VanBuren
    • CNM Photographer: ​Journey Esposito
    • Next Generations: True Kids 1
      • Sandy Campbell, Carlos Miller (senior, THS)
    • ​TrueKids 1 Media Team
      • Anabelle Caldwell (senior, THS)
      • Angie Diaz Burns
      • Aylin Cardenas
      • Carlos Miller (senior, THS)
      • Kalila Ko (junior, THS)
      • Lucy Schreiber
      • Luna Bonny (junior, THS)
      • Mia Barela
      • Millie Caldwell
      • Sienna Sategna (senior, THS)

​9am-2pm Information Tables in the East and West Wings
  1. Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE)
  2. New Mexico State Libraries
  3. New Mexico Exchange Carrier Group
  4. Tribal Working Group
  5. New Mexico Public Education Department (PED)
  6. New Mexico Fiber Network
  7. Digital Equity Working Group
  8. New Mexico Office of Cybersecurity
  9. Rural Electric Coops and Kit Carson
  10. AARP New Mexico and OATS
  11. New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department
  12. Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA)
  13. Senator Lujan's Office
  14. New Mexico Tech Council and Teeniors
  15. Mycelia Foundation
  16. Santa Fe Community College
  17. BigByte and ABQix
  18. New Mexico Broadband Summit with Kelly Cable and
  19. New Mexico Chamber of Commerce
  20. Encuetro
  21. Mamacitas
  22. TrueKids1 Media Team
Safer Internet Day
February 6, 2024
​
Safer Internet Day is an opportunity for parents, caregivers, and advocates to come together, ensuring a safer online environment for the next generation. Common Sense Media urges families to engage in these conversations and implement proactive measures to create a positive online experience.  In recognition of Safer Internet Day, Common Sense Media is raising awareness about the challenges and opportunities children face on social media platforms. 
Key Recommendations for Parents and Caregivers (from Common Sense Media): 
  • Regular Conversations about Mental Health: Ask questions such as "How do you feel when using social media?" to foster communication. Be vigilant about signs of depression or suicidal thoughts, seeking professional help if needed. 
  • Circle of Support Online and Offline: Encourage girls to follow positive role models and join supportive online communities. Prioritize in-person social connections through family and friend gatherings, organized sports, and clubs. 
  • Affirm Identity and Body Positivity: Counter body dissatisfaction by affirming identity and promoting positive body messages. Discuss the impact of social media on body image and emphasize the beauty of true diversity. 
  • Encourage Healthy Sleep Habits: Establish device-free bedtime routines to counter sleep interference caused by social media and set clear expectations around tech use before bedtime to promote healthy sleep habits. 
  • Reframe Conversations about "Stranger Danger": Teach girls the importance of not sharing personal information with strangers and using reporting tools. Address feelings of loneliness or exclusion that may lead to online interactions with strangers. 
  • Embrace Social Media's Positive Side: Explore the positive impact of social media, including affirmation of identity and increased connection. Enjoy social media platforms together, seeking out positive role models and trends. ​
Digital Learning Day
​February 15, 2024
Teachers, students, schools, and community learning sites share stories and examples of digital learning activities and accomplishments

Highlights in New Mexico:
Tribal Broadband Convening
February 28, 2024
at the Inn of the Mountain Gods
Mescalero, New Mexico
​
Presentations from the Event:
The February 28th Convening at Inn of the Mountain Gods was a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to meet and receive updates on pertinent technical, legislative, and funding on broadband. Attendees included Tribal Leaders, personnel from IT, Broadband, and Education sectors, fostering a collaborative environment conducive to addressing key issues impacting tribal communities. The convening is part of a multi-year effort to support internet for all in rural New Mexico and for tribal members in New Mexico on behalf of the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) and the Connect New Mexico Council.
Annual Broadband Day Reception
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
3pm - 7:30pm (ish)
​in Santa Fe, NM

Enjoy great company and New Mexican food, including green Chile stew and Frito pie, at the annual Broadband Day Reception. This informal gathering of stakeholders will be held again at the Schlegel home in Las Campanas - Santa Fe, New Mexico. RSVP required to receive address and gate code, which will be emailed to registrants on January 23rd,
​the afternoon before the event.
The Broadband Digital Equity Summit
Friday, September 27, 2024, 9:30.am.-3p.m.

National Hispanic Cultural Center
1701 4th St SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Registration and Opening Introductions in the Wells Fargo Theater (inside the Disney Performing Arts Building). Free Parking onsite. Event is free but space is limited and pre-registration is required.
Register Online.
​

KeyNote

Picture
​Keynote Speaker
Erin Carr-Jordan, Ph.D.
President and CEO 
Dr. Erin Carr-Jordan is a globally recognized leader in digital equity and inclusion, serving as CEO of the Institute for Digital Inclusion Acceleration (IDIA) and Executive Director of Digital Equity and Social Impact at ASU. Over the last seven years, she has secured $108 million in funding across education, workforce development, and social impact, including $13 million for digital equity. With 25 years of experience Dr. Carr-Jordan has pioneered large-scale, multi-sector initiatives addressing systemic inequities through human-centered design and technology. Her portfolio includes work with NASA, NSF, USAID, the UN, and the World Bank. A seasoned policy coauthor and board member, Erin drives research and innovation to create lasting, scalable impact. She holds degrees in Broadcasting, Human Development, and Educational Psychology from ASU and an executive certificate in organizational leadership from MIT.
Download slide deck

Program

Welcome the online archive of highlights and resources from the 2nd Annual Digital Equity Summit 2024. We continue to add materials and slide decks, so check back regularly to find new resources and photos.
Digital Literacy Program Breakouts
Helen Wakefield, Project C-3PO Easter New Mexico University-Roswell
Download Slides

Maria Chaparro, Mamacitas Cibernéticas of Southern Dona Ana County
Download Slides
Workforce Development Panel
  • Drew Lovelace, Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE)
  • Sarita Nair, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS)
  • Audrey Marroquin, Educational Partnerships and Workforce Planning Office, UNM Los Alamos

  • REPORT:
    ​    Building a Strong Workforce in NM  Part 1
         Broadband Workforce in New Mexico
Tribal Perspectives on Digital Equity
  • Stephine Poston, Poston and Associates LLC
  • Victory Quintana, Tribal Coordinator, Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE)
  • Darius Smith, Native Professionals Advancement Center

Community Connections - Teenoirs
Trish Lopez, Teeniors
Digital Navigators Update
Bo Ford, New Mexico State Libraries
AND, Mike Jackson,  New Mexico Black Leadership Council (NMBLC)
AND meet Olivia Lockley and Emma Steltzer from the American Connection Corp and the Albuquerque Digital navigator pilot program.

Lightening Round 

Community members shared five-minute updates and highlights from their projects and programs.
Penasco Valley TelePHONE COOPERATIVE (PVT)
Mitch Hubbard, Penasco Valley Telephone Cooperative
Download slide deck
Ascend Digital Inclusion New Mexico
Ferdi Serim, ASCEND Digital Inclusion New Mexico https://youtu.be/Qk51UkGVrb0
UNM HSC Office of Community Health & SENIOR PLANET & Older Adults TechnologY Services (OATS) from AARP
Fael Torres, UNM HSC Office for Community Health
AND Dayton Romero, Senior Planet and Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) Download slide deck
COMCAST
Kyle Biederwolf, Comcast
Download slide deck
OFFICE of Broadband Access & Expansion (OBAE)
Jennifer Nevarez, CLN and New Mexico Broadband and Digital Equity Support Team, Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE)
NEXT STEPS ​
  1. Working Group - Register online for updates and invites for the Digital Equity Working Group
  2. News - Register online for the OBAE newsletter and Connect New Mexico newsblasts
  3. OBAE Calendar - Browse the OBAE Calendar online ​and participate in upcoming events 
  4. NM Broadband Summit - Consider attending the New Mexico Broadband Summit hosted by the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce at Isleta Pueblo on Tuesday, October 29 Learn More and Register online
  5. ​​NM Broadband Day at the Legislature - Join us for Broadband Day at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe on Tuesday, March 4
  6. NM Computer Campaign - Learn more and join the growing New Mexico Computer Donation and Distribution Network Link 
Statement from Catherine Nicolau: “I regrettably can not join you all today. I am at home managing a health condition. My agenda over the next few days will include lots of medication and rest. But it is your agenda today and the work you will engage in that holds the most importance. While I have access to the internet, can afford it, have adequate devices and digital literacy skills to look up drug interactions, message my provider on MyChart or research ways to get better faster, millions of Americans do not. I can use the internet when it matters most but those are privileges that so many live without. So hold space for each other today. Build on each other’s successes to ensure that fellow New Mexicans live life with dignity. Your work is incredibly important and I will see you all soon.”  CATHERINE NICOLAOU, Broadband Program Manager City of Albuquerque (cabq.gov)
Victory Trujillo, OBAE Tribal Coordinator, was interviewed by Channel 7 at the DE Summit. She was on TV at 4pm and/or 5pm and throughout the weekend. Link to video.
WHAT IS Digital Equity?
​​What is Digital Equity?
Digital Equity is the condition in which internet access, affordability, and the ability to use digital technologies to reach important goals is possible for everyone.  This means everyone is equally able to benefit from the educational, economic, employment, and health opportunities that the internet provides. New Mexico State Legislature defines Digital Equity in House Bill 10.
WHAT LIMITS DIGITAL EQUITY?
What Limits Digital Equity?
Digital Equity is limited by a range of barriers that prevent people from having home internet service, acquiring quality devices, gaining the skills they need, or having access to technical assistance. These barriers may be related to larger socioeconomic factors or may be a consequence of location, language, and physical abilities.  These limits to Digital Equity create a division between those who experience equitable conditions and those who do not. This division is referred to as the “Digital Divide.”
WHAT ADVANCES DIGITAL EQUITY?
What Advances Digital Equity?
Digital Equity is advanced through the practices, policies, and programs of that make it possible for everyone to operate under digitally equitable conditions. Together, these activities are referred to as “Digital Inclusion.” Digital Inclusion activities include providing low-cost device and internet service plans as well as free and locally available training and IT support in accessible and inclusive locations.
New Mexico DIGITAL EQUITY Plan
New Mexico ​Digital Equity Plan
To increase Digital Inclusion activities and achieve Digital Equity, New Mexico is creating a state Digital Equity Plan.
The plan will develop and implement the Digital Inclusion actions needed across the state ​to make Digital Equity for all New Mexicans a reality.

Photo Gallery 

New Mexico Digital Equity Summit

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