The Governor is signing executive orders to boost the image of the state in the eyes of the nation. At the same time, the State Economic Development Department paints a rosy picture of our technological condition with words like these:
Bandwidth. Companies want it now and they want it everywhere -at home, at the office and on the road. In New Mexico over 100 Internet Service Providers deliver broadband to over 200 communities across the state; fiber runs border to border. MAGNet, a State initiative, will create a single, state-wide centralized telecom backbone based on ATM and MPLS technologies.
The only problem is the spin is unbelievably disconnected from reality. New Mexico’s ranking when it comes to our online population compared to the rest of the nation is on the wrong side of the digital divide.
Some might try to blame it on topography; however, since Alaska leads the nation in connectivity, that defense falls short. Others may claim it has to do with being a poor state with limited resources. If that were true, how do you explain the millions upon tens of millions of dollars that Governor Richardson spends on unnecessary planes and trains (subscription)?
The economic development department is right about one thing: “Bandwidth. Companies want it now and they want it everywhere -at home, at the office and on the road.” Unfortunately, our political leaders don’t seem to understand this. If they did, significant state dollars would be invested in infrastructure that increases the speed of thought, NOT in vehicles to increase the speed of travel.