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Jeffrey Lopez Appointed as New Mexico Broadband Director

Jeffrey Lopez Appointed as New Mexico Broadband Director to Drive Statewide Connectivity

Jeffrey Lopez has been named the new Broadband Director for New Mexico, taking the helm at a time of rapid infrastructure development and growing momentum for digital equity. Stepping into a role critical to closing the connectivity gap, Lopez brings leadership to state efforts geared toward delivering fast, reliable internet access—especially in underserved rural areas where broadband access remains limited.

This appointment aligns with a broader push seen across the country and within New Mexico to expand high-speed internet as a foundation for economic development, education, and healthcare. Recent broadband investments, including federal support through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and implementation of the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion’s strategic plan, position Lopez at the center of transformative change. With national emphasis on universal broadband access, New Mexico’s strategy now gains a key figure to execute and scale impactful solutions.

Leadership Rooted in Experience: Who Is Jeffrey Lopez?

Decades of Infrastructure and Public Sector Expertise

Jeffrey Lopez brings over 20 years of experience leading large-scale infrastructure initiatives to his new post as New Mexico’s Broadband Director. His professional record includes senior positions in both state and municipal governments, where he directed technology upgrades, expanded digital services, and contributed to long-term infrastructure planning. Before his appointment, Lopez served as Deputy Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Information Technology, playing a central role in statewide digital strategy implementation and cross-agency technology coordination.

Hands-On with Broadband and Policy Innovation

Lopez isn’t new to broadband development. He previously led intergovernmental efforts focused on federal broadband funding applications and policy design. At the City of Santa Fe, he directed Smart City initiatives that integrated both public Wi-Fi zones and fiber expansion. During his tenure at the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, he contributed to rule-making processes affecting telecom access in underserved areas. His resume reflects a consistent focus on closing connectivity gaps through practical, policy-driven solutions.

Deep Community Ties and Local Insight

Raised in San Miguel County, Lopez understands the challenges facing rural New Mexico. He has worked extensively with community organizations in the Rio Grande Valley and the Four Corners region to promote tech equity. His background includes managing grant programs that funded telehealth deployments and online education infrastructure in tribal communities. These lived connections inform his commitment to inclusive broadband strategies rooted in local needs.

Transitioning from Trujillo’s Leadership

Lopez succeeds Drew Trujillo, who led key groundwork for the New Mexico Broadband Office during its formative years. Trujillo initiated broadband mapping efforts and successfully coordinated with federal agencies on funding pipelines. Under Lopez, the Office will move from planning to execution at scale. His appointment signals a shift toward operationalizing large-scale broadband deployment with stronger community partnerships and measurable infrastructure outcomes.

Transforming Connectivity: Inside the New Mexico Broadband Office

Mission of the NM Broadband Office

The New Mexico Broadband Office (NMBO) works to ensure that every resident—urban, rural, or tribal—has access to affordable, high-speed internet. The office sets definitive goals: expand statewide broadband infrastructure, promote equitable connectivity, and enhance digital literacy programs. These objectives align with New Mexico’s broader vision for economic resilience and educational opportunity in the digital era.

Organizational Structure and Core Responsibilities

The NMBO operates under the New Mexico Department of Information Technology and is composed of interdisciplinary teams including policy analysts, engineers, outreach coordinators, geospatial data specialists, and grant compliance officers. The director, now Jeffrey Lopez, leads these teams with a mandate to coordinate state and federal broadband programs, facilitate stakeholder engagement, evaluate project proposals, and monitor implementation across all regions.

Current Broadband Initiatives

Multiple statewide initiatives are underway. One flagship effort, the New Mexico Connect program, aggregates community feedback to shape broadband rollout strategies and address anchor institution connectivity. Additionally, the office manages the state’s $123 million allocation from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which supports last-mile infrastructure projects in underserved areas.

Another major project: the Tribal Broadband Grant Program, designed in collaboration with tribal nation leadership. This initiative funds middle-mile and community broadband solutions specifically on tribal lands, where connectivity gaps are most acute.

Services Expanding Under New Leadership

Under Jeffrey Lopez, the office is expanding its service portfolio. A new Broadband Technical Assistance Team now provides hands-on planning support to local governments and schools. Lopez has also greenlit the launch of a Digital Equity Portal—an interactive dashboard that tracks progress on deployment metrics, digital literacy training programs, and affordability initiatives.

Plans also include a centralized permitting and right-of-way portal to speed project approvals, and a public-facing broadband infrastructure map, set for release later this year. By embedding accessibility into every layer of planning and execution, the office under Lopez aims to accelerate both speed and scale in how broadband reaches New Mexico's most disconnected regions.

Mapping the Digital Reality: Broadband in New Mexico Today

How Connected Is New Mexico?

According to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 2023 Broadband Deployment Report, just 76.4% of New Mexicans have access to fixed terrestrial broadband at speeds of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. The situation deteriorates sharply outside of metro centers. In rural areas, only 61.5% have access to those minimum speeds; on Tribal lands, availability plunges to 47.6%.

The state ranks 42nd nationally in broadband infrastructure deployment, creating a digital landscape marked by inconsistencies and widespread gaps.

Rural and Tribal Areas: Struggling for Connection

Vast distances, rugged topography, and economic constraints compound the difficulty of network installation in rural New Mexico. Fiber-optic infrastructure is sparse in counties like Catron, Guadalupe, and Mora. Many communities in those regions rely heavily on underperforming satellite connections or spotty fixed wireless service.

On Tribal lands, the gap becomes more than technical. The Navajo Nation, for instance, spans nearly 27,000 square miles but lacks the basic broadband backbone available in neighboring urban areas. In these communities, many households remain entirely unserved—without even legacy copper networks.

The Price of Disconnection

Digital inequity translates directly to reduced access to core public services. When broadband infrastructure is absent, students depend on public libraries or Wi-Fi hotspots to complete assignments. Healthcare providers are unable to offer reliable telehealth services, especially in areas like northern New Mexico where hospitals are few and far between. Entrepreneurs in small towns find themselves locked out of digital marketplaces, limiting their growth potential.

This doesn't just affect individual lives; it restricts regional economic expansion. A study by the Purdue Center for Regional Development found that rural counties with robust broadband access experience population growth, lower unemployment rates, and increased business starts compared to similar counties without such access.

Affordability: More Than Just Infrastructure

Even in areas where broadband is physically available, affordability remains a barrier. Data from the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) shows that over 28% of New Mexico households with broadband pay more than $70 per month. For families on fixed incomes, that cost discourages or completely prevents adoption.

Devices, digital skills training, and consistent support structures are equally vital. An internet connection alone doesn’t guarantee full participation in the digital economy. Equipping residents with tools and knowledge to use broadband effectively is integral to any statewide strategy.

Patchwork Infrastructure, Unequal Access

Across New Mexico, broadband availability paints a fragmented picture. Albuquerque and Santa Fe enjoy robust fiber networks and multiple provider competition. In contrast, communities in counties like Hidalgo or Rio Arriba contend with dead zones, limited service providers, and outdated infrastructure. This divergence creates a growing digital divide that aligns with socioeconomic and geographic fault lines.

Without coordinated investment, these gaps will widen. Technology infrastructure has moved from a convenience to a utility—yet the supply still doesn’t meet that reality for large portions of the state.

Targeting New Mexico’s Remote Corners: Lopez’s Commitment to Rural Broadband

Extending Coverage to Underserved Communities

Jeffrey Lopez has placed rural and tribal broadband expansion at the heart of his early agenda as New Mexico Broadband Director. In his first public remarks, he stated that "closing the rural connectivity gap is not just a technical problem—it’s an infrastructure and equity challenge we must solve together."

More than 20% of New Mexicans live in rural areas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Yet, Federal Communications Commission data shows that broadband access in these regions lags significantly behind the state average. This disparity has shaped Lopez’s strong focus on delivering high-speed Internet to remote populations, especially Indigenous communities where the digital divide remains particularly wide.

Challenges Unique to Rural Deployment

Lopez has acknowledged these realities and signaled a willingness to explore hybrid solutions—combining fiber-optic cables with fixed wireless and satellite technologies—to adapt to geographical and economic barriers.

Early Movement: Listening Tours and Coalition Building

In his first sixty days, Lopez initiated a series of listening sessions with local leaders across counties like Rio Arriba, McKinley, and Otero. These forums revealed what communities need most: reliable, affordable broadband and long-term support to maintain it.

Speaking at a roundtable in Gallup, Lopez said, “Rural families shouldn’t have to drive 30 miles to a library parking lot to download schoolwork. That’s not acceptable, and that’s where we begin making change.”

He's also engaged in early coordination with tribal governments to ensure that tribal sovereignty is respected in broadband planning. This marks a shift from previous top-down approaches that often sidelined Native voices.

Through these early moves, Lopez is anchoring the Broadband Office’s work in lived experiences, grounding strategy in the voices of those most affected by digital exclusion.

Aligning Forces: Federal Funding and State Leadership in Broadband Expansion

Transformative Funding Streams Target New Mexico's Connectivity Needs

Federal initiatives are reshaping the broadband landscape in New Mexico. Programs like the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) have already designated over $675 million to strengthen broadband access across the state. Under BEAD alone, the state is projected to receive approximately $675.4 million, according to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). This influx of funding demands strategic leadership and coordination to translate dollars into infrastructure and access.

Lopez Positions New Mexico to Leverage Every Federal Dollar

Jeffrey Lopez steps into the role with a directive to integrate federal funding into a cohesive state strategy. His background in statewide infrastructure planning will allow the New Mexico Broadband Office to function as a central hub—aligning capital flows with targeted deployment. In his role, Lopez will coordinate directly with federal agencies and ensure state proposals meet program requirements while advancing local priorities. As a result, fewer resources will fall through the cracks, and more communities will see tangible improvements.

Working Across Boundaries—Partnering With Local, Tribal, and Regional Entities

The New Mexico Broadband Office doesn’t operate in isolation. Under Lopez’s leadership, efforts will intensify to engage with:

Through memorandums of understanding (MOUs), technical workshops, and direct planning consultations, Lopez will expand the state’s multi-stakeholder ecosystem to ensure implementation reflects ground realities—not just policy ideals.

Shaping New Mexico’s Broadband Future Through Smart Policy

State policy must match the scale of federal investment. Lopez is already leading efforts to revise broadband statutes, streamline permitting processes, and set performance standards for providers receiving public infrastructure dollars. These actions will reduce deployment timelines and enforce accountability.

He also brings a data-centric approach to policy development, establishing performance benchmarks based on real-world speed tests and adoption rates. The office is now incorporating those metrics into long-range plans, linking funding to measurable outcomes. Under Lopez’s direction, New Mexico’s broadband policies will focus less on intentions and more on delivery.

Advancing Equity: Strategic Goals for Closing the Digital Divide

Jeffrey Lopez’s appointment as New Mexico Broadband Director directly aligns with the state’s commitment to digital equity. This isn’t about expanding access in general terms — this is about bringing high-speed internet to every corner of New Mexico, with a deliberate focus on underserved and marginalized communities.

Equity takes center stage in Lopez’s strategic plan. That means ensuring that tribal nations, rural villages, immigrant neighborhoods, and urban low-income areas experience the same quality and reliability of service as well-connected regions. To accomplish that, Lopez leverages data-driven mapping to identify coverage gaps and prioritize investments where they’ll create the greatest impact.

Inclusive Access as a Foundation

The digital divide won’t close simply by installing more fiber. Inclusive access demands attention to affordability, device availability, digital literacy, and infrastructure resilience in historically overlooked areas. Lopez’s strategy addresses each of these elements, with specific targets designed to:

Integrating Broadband with Public Services

Connectivity does more than provide internet — it powers education, healthcare access, entrepreneurship, and civic participation. That’s why Lopez coordinates closely across sectors. His office works alongside the Department of Education to ensure all public school students — whether in Shiprock or Santa Fe — have internet access at home. Telehealth expansion receives similar attention, with broadband planning integrated into the Department of Health’s rural healthcare initiatives.

Economic development is another anchor point. Lopez’s roadmap places broadband at the core of entrepreneurial ecosystems, especially in remote towns where internet access can determine whether a startup idea becomes reality.

Results-Oriented Collaboration

With Lopez at the helm, collaboration no longer means occasional consultation. Instead, cross-sector leadership coalitions ensure alignment of broadband deployment with statewide goals. The Broadband Office will embed liaisons into regional councils and distribute regular public updates so momentum stays visible — and accountable.

Rather than viewing digital equity as an outcome, Lopez treats it as a deliverable. His strategic framework doesn’t just reflect a vision — it measures progress with precision and centers equity in execution.

Driving Economic Growth Through Digital Connectivity

Unlocking Opportunities for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs

Expanding broadband access has already started transforming how entrepreneurs do business across New Mexico. High-speed internet enables online storefronts, digital marketing, and e-commerce operations—tools that were previously out of reach in disconnected regions. From family-operated ranches in northeastern counties to craftspeople in southwestern pueblos, reliable connectivity allows small businesses to scale far beyond their immediate geographic markets.

Among the early adopters, local artisans and food producers have found new revenue streams by selling directly to customers through platforms like Etsy and Shopify. Without universally available broadband, this kind of digital entrepreneurship doesn’t take root, especially in frontier communities.

Fueling Remote Work and Modern Workforce Participation

Broadband infrastructure directly affects employability. With remote job opportunities increasing by over 135% nationwide between 2019 and 2023, regions without stable internet lose access to those jobs entirely. In New Mexico, where long commutes and scarce job access previously limited rural residents, Lopez’s broadband strategy clears a path to high-paying roles in software development, customer service, finance, and more—all from home.

Several local governments and training providers have ramped up digital skills programs to prepare residents for this shift. Workforce boards in Rio Arriba and Doña Ana counties report record enrollment in online IT certification courses—a movement made possible by stronger internet infrastructure.

Healthcare Access and Telemedicine Expansion

Connectivity saves lives. In northern and southern health deserts, where the nearest hospital can be over 50 miles away, broadband has enabled routine telehealth services that reduce emergency care dependency. Clinics in areas like Truth or Consequences and Española now report lower no-show rates and better patient follow-up, thanks to virtual appointments powered by broadband upgrades.

Broadband also supports critical backend systems like electronic medical records, diagnostic imaging transfers, and cloud-based care coordination—functions that streamline resource usage across cash-strapped rural health systems.

Education and Workforce Development

Online learning isn't only for K-12 students; it's a gateway to upward mobility. Broadband access enables GED completion, vocational certifications, and remote degree programs. The University of New Mexico’s digital learning division has reported enrollment growth over 30% in the last three years, particularly among adult learners and tribal members returning to school remotely.

This educational access also extends to children. Broadband makes interactive learning possible at home, ensures access to real-time tutoring, and bridges summer learning gaps that disproportionately affect low-income and rural families.

Job Creation Through Infrastructure Deployment

Every mile of fiber-optic cable laid translates into direct labor hours. The state’s broadband rollout initiative, backed by federal BEAD and CPF funds, is projected to support nearly 18,000 jobs through 2026—a mix of engineering, construction, project management, telecommunications, logistics, and support roles.

In an interview with a regional project coordinator for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, they highlighted that “You’re not just talking about internet. You’re talking about trucks on dirt roads, local hires in tribal territories, and technicians learning 21st-century skills on the job.”

Forward-Looking Economic Blueprint

Jeffrey Lopez has consistently described broadband as a leverage point—not just for solving current problems but for unlocking long-term economic resilience. His vision outlines transforming broadband from infrastructure into a catalyst: connecting ports of entry, bolstering border trade logistics, enabling precision agriculture, and sustaining tourism through better digital booking and marketing platforms.

Under his leadership, the broadband office aims to align digital expansion with New Mexico's broader economic development strategy—utilizing the state's unique geography, cultural assets, and business potential to compete in national and global digital markets.

Building Trust Through Community Engagement and Transparency

Jeffrey Lopez's appointment as New Mexico Broadband Director comes with a clearly articulated approach: broadband expansion must be rooted in dialogue with the people it intends to serve. Under Lopez’s leadership, the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion has prioritized direct community involvement as a foundational element of every initiative.

Planning with, not for, the Community

Lopez has rejected top-down strategies in favor of collaborative models that invite residents to help shape broadband policy and deployment. This method goes beyond consultation—it embeds the perspectives of everyday New Mexicans into long-term decision-making. From tribal lands in the northwest to colonias in the south, planning meetings are structured to listen first and act after consensus.

Information Sessions and Outreach Campaigns

The Office has launched a statewide schedule of informational sessions designed to translate technical policy into accessible language. These include:

Each channel feeds into a central database to ensure responses are documented, categorized, and integrated into policy design by the Office’s planning staff.

Elevating Underserved Voices

Participation opens channels, but prioritizing feedback from those least heard shapes policy. The Office uses targeted surveys focused on:

Lopez’s staff partners with community-based organizations to ensure the data isn’t just collected—it’s grounded in lived experience. Feedback from these sectors directly shapes grant eligibility requirements, timelines, and infrastructure planning maps.

Collaboration at the Local Level

Lopez has instituted formal collaboration frameworks with county and municipal leaders. These include:

By aligning the state's initiatives with real-time local feedback, Lopez establishes accountability and quickens deployment timelines. This coordination between residents, elected officials, and engineers anchors the strategy in pragmatism and shared responsibility.

What’s Next? The Road Ahead for Lopez and New Mexico

Immediate Priorities Under Lopez’s Leadership

Jeffrey Lopez steps into the role with a roadmap already in motion. His first months will center around accelerating the deployment of funds from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. New Mexico received $675 million in BEAD allocations from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in June 2023—one of the highest per capita awards in the country. Coordinating how that money reaches underserved areas will be a top priority, as the state prepares to move from planning into execution phases.

Additionally, Lopez will be responsible for overseeing the creation of Volume Two of the New Mexico Broadband Equity Plan. This phase, scheduled for public release in mid-2024, will determine implementation strategies and compliance benchmarks, shaping the state's broadband map for the next decade.

Legislative Activity on the Horizon

The 2025 legislative session will present several touchpoints for Lopez. State lawmakers are expected to review the Statewide Broadband Strategic Plan and consider refinements to New Mexico’s fiber permitting and utility pole attachment regulations—two regulatory areas that deeply influence infrastructure rollout speeds. Lopez will liaise between legislators and public utility advocates to streamline legal frameworks in favor of accelerated buildouts.

Grant Programs for Local Entities

Municipalities, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations will have multiple funding windows opening under Lopez's watch. The New Mexico Connects Grant Program, relaunched with new criteria in early 2024, offers up to $10 million per project for last-mile connectivity and digital inclusion initiatives. The program prioritizes projects that serve high-cost, low-density areas and include robust community engagement plans.

How Residents and Stakeholders Can Stay Engaged

Participation will directly influence broadband outcomes across communities. The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) will expand its digital dashboard in Q3 2024, allowing residents to track infrastructure projects by ZIP code, see grant disbursements, and submit feedback or unserved area data.

Public broadband forums begin rotating statewide in August. These events will provide space for local governments, school districts, healthcare institutions, and residents to discuss needs and build partnerships. A call for local broadband champions—community leads who serve as liaisons between OBAE and their town or city—will launch concurrently.

Want to weigh in before then? The Broadband Office will publish two rounds of Requests for Information (RFIs) on policy considerations and public-private partnership models. Submitting input through these RFIs will shape the contours of future legislation and investment strategies.

A New Chapter in Closing New Mexico’s Digital Divide

Jeffrey Lopez steps into the role of Broadband Director at a decisive moment for the state. With federal broadband funding aligned and priority initiatives in place, his appointment sets a course toward measurable, statewide change in how New Mexicans access and use the internet.

Leadership from the New Mexico Broadband Office now has the opportunity to convert longstanding goals—like rural internet access, digital equity, and inclusive economic development—into concrete results. Under Lopez, the office is positioned to accelerate broadband infrastructure projects, streamline policy execution, and deepen engagement with local communities affected by the digital divide.

Across rural towns, tribal lands, underserved urban neighborhoods, and border communities, the potential reach is expansive. As broadband in New Mexico evolves, the daily life of residents will shift—more students completing homework online without buffering, more businesses participating in digital markets, more families accessing telehealth without delay.

Digital equity no longer exists on the distant horizon; it's embedded in the state's immediate agenda. What transforms potential into progress is movement—funding allocated, permits granted, cables laid, access switched on.

Follow the developments. Visit the New Mexico Broadband Office's site for updates. Attend public forums. Ask: what's the internet speed in my zip code? What’s missing in the broadband strategy for my area? Community reflection sharpens state direction.

Jeffrey Lopez brings not only technological insight but a mandate to act. With the infrastructure plans advancing and leadership now solidified, the state enters a new chapter—one defined not only by access but by full participation in a connected economy.