A pilot program is reshaping lives by placing laptops into the hands of families who have long been on the wrong side of the digital divide.
Over the past six months, the state-funded TechUp! New Mexico initiative has distributed 170 laptops to families across 33 communities and has conducted almost 1,600 digital training sessions.The device for many residents represents their first personal computer — a gateway not just to the internet, but to education, job opportunities, health care access and civic participation in an increasingly online world.
The program, backed by more than $300,000 from the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) and carried out by Adelante DiverseIT, a nonprofit focused on technology access, is aimed at urban, rural, and Tribal communities. It combines hardware distribution with hands-on support, including group classes, one-on-one tutoring, phone help lines, and email assistance.
This certified broadband training is invaluable for New Mexico workers to understand and master fiber optics,” said Jeff Lopez, OBAE’s director.
The laptops come preloaded with antivirus software and include accessories such as battery-powered mice for users unfamiliar with trackpads.
New Mexico has long struggled with some of the nation’s most chronic connectivity problems. The state often logs near the bottom in broadband adoption, with gaps affecting low-income households, rural residents, Tribal nations, seniors, English language learners and people with disabilities.
While major federal investments — including hundreds of millions of dollars through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program — are expanding physical infrastructure, officials say access to devices and digital skills is just as critical.
“Expanding broadband access across our communities is essential for accessing health care, job opportunities, and education. That’s why I’m proud to have helped secure $2 million in funding for the New Mexico Office of Broadband Workforce Development Program,” said Sen. Ben Ray Luján. “This program will help train New Mexicans for good-paying jobs, strengthen our workforce, and connect our state to affordable, reliable internet.”
Stories from the Front Lines
In Valencia County, community centers have hosted distribution activities, and recipients learn the basics of navigating laptops alongside receiving their machines. One participant, a single mother working irregular service jobs, said the laptop now lets her file online applications for better-paying positions and help her children with schoolwork without depending on library computers with limited hours.
DiverseIT technicians load laptops into distribution bags, teaching recipients practical support. The organization, part of the Adelante Development Center, has a track record of refurbishing and distributing devices while offering training tailored to real needs. That is from setting up email accounts to safely accessing government services or telehealth appointments.
Similar initiatives echo across the state. In Doña Ana County, local coalitions have identified digital literacy, particularly among seniors, and affordable devices as key hurdles even where basic connectivity exists. Surveys show that nearly 1 in 4 households in some areas lack any internet subscription, which is far above the national average.
Statewide data highlight the urgency of the issue. According to analyses by the National Skills Coalition, roughly 9 in 10 jobs in New Mexico either definitely or likely require digital skills. Low-income families lag significantly in desktop or laptop ownership, compounding disadvantages in education and employment.
A Broader Strategy
TechUp! New Mexico fits into a broader digital equity framework. OBAE, established in recent years, works with federal programs and local partners to address the full spectrum of barriers, namely: affordability, availability, adoption, and skills. The state’s Digital Equity Plan seeks universal access to devices and training, recognizing that hardware without know-how is of limited value.
The success of this pilot program will inform future efforts. Organizers hope to scale up the program, potentially utilizing additional grants and partnerships. Complementary efforts include public Wi-Fi expansions, device lending libraries, and targeted training for specific populations, including Tribal communities where connectivity barriers.
Challenges, however, remain. Sustaining funding, providing technical support in remote areas and tracking long-term results — such as improved employment rates or educational attainment — remain key challenges. Critics of digital inclusion efforts sometimes note that infrastructure alone is not enough; a holistic approach like TechUp! aim to learn from those lessons.
In the meantime, the immediate impact is tangible. A grandmother in a rural northern community is using her new laptop to video-call her distant grandchildren. A young adult in a Tribal nation researching online vocational courses. And a small business owner managing inventory and customer communications more efficiently.
Addressing the Gap
Programs like TechUp! are a reminder that technology’s promise lies not in cables or signals alone, while New Mexico pours resources into fiber-optic lines snaking across its rugged terrain. But also in building human capability. Equipping residents with both tools and skills is an investment in equity and economic vitality.
State leaders, nonprofits and community organizers express cautious optimism. The digital divide, long a quiet but profound barrier, is narrowing — one laptop, one training session and one empowered family at a time.