Access to the internet is crucial for many areas of our lives. Thanks to the internet, we can work and study from home, access online entertainment services, attend online therapy, and access a wide variety of information. Unfortunately, this is not the situation for all New Mexicans; many lack technology or internet services. In fact, according to the United States Census Bureau, 134,585 households in New Mexico, nearly one out of every six families, lack access to a computer or internet in their homes. (1) During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, we published the first digital divide dashboard and newsletter to raise awareness. This work led to the Success Partnership’s #Connect New Mexico Campaign. We have since updated the dashboard and looked at New Mexico's progress in closing the divide.

Home access to computers and the internet have long been basic necessities for students. Contacting teachers, accessing school work, and connecting to class resources such as textbooks and educational platforms is nearly impossible without it. The digital divide is not simply an inconvenience for those affected, it is a serious equity issue. Data shows that the digital divide perpetuates inequalities and limits opportunities for those who cannot afford these resources. The Urban Institute found eighth-grade students without access to computers or the internet were more than two years behind their classmates academically. (2)

The digital divide also impacts certain racial groups more than others. In New Mexico, Native American households are approximately three times as likely as all other racial and ethnic groups to lack a computer or internet access. (4) However, New Mexico has experienced some progress since 2018. According to the most recent data from the US Census Bureau, in 2018, nearly half of Native American households (46%) lacked a computer or internet access, compared to 34% in 2021. Similarly, trends show that the percentage of access is slowly decreasing for other racial and ethnic groups. Still, our state has a long way to go to close this gap.

The pandemic prompted schools to address the issue. With federal funding, public schools gave out laptops that students could use to access their class resources. (5) If students did not have internet, some districts provided a mobile hotspot or connected families to discounted internet services. Many New Mexico colleges also provided students with computers and internet access. In the school year 2022–2023, New Mexico State University and Doña Ana Community College launched initiatives that provided incoming students who met specific requirements with free laptops or iPads. (6) 

State and local organizations also launched numerous campaigns and initiatives to address and bridge the gap. One notable endeavor is the Connect New Mexico initiative, introduced in 2021, aimed to provide internet access to all residents of New Mexico. Connect New Mexico has active surveys and mapping programs to determine the areas that need internet connectivity. (7) In recent developments, New Mexico secured a grant of $5.74 million as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The grant will allow state officials to plan for another federal award of more than $100 million. These awards fund the hardware installation necessary to provide internet in areas with little to no internet. While this is a step forward, the state's estimated cost of achieving comprehensive connectivity is more than $2 billion. (8)