Nebraska

Amplifying Investments

Governor Jim Pillen traveled to Clay Center Public Library on April 26, 2023, to announce his library fiber initiative to connect 150 rural, public libraries to fiber over the next three years using E-rate Special Construction Matching Funds. Inspired by Footnote 52 of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), this initiative may enable some providers to expeditiously reach unserved villages and towns and potentially lower their future BEAD project costs.

Digital Opportunity Listening Sessions

The Nebraska Broadband Office used the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Digital Equity planning funds to conduct 26 digital opportunity listening sessions for BEAD and Digital Equity covering all corners of the state, logging over 7,500 miles from April to July 2023, and involving hundreds of citizens. These meetings gathered key public input on the connections, skills, devices, and affordability factors essential to creating an Internet for All.

Improving Resiliency in Nebraska

In June 2023, NTIA announced more than $36 million to develop the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska’s middle mile infrastructure. This project will deploy a fiber-based middle mile network to cover currently unserved and underserved Tribal and adjacent rural areas in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

The total combined funding awarded to Nebraska’s four federally recognized Tribes from NTIA’s Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure (Middle Mile) Program, Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP), and Connecting Minority Communities (CMC) Pilot Program exceeded $70 million and will enable thousands of new fiber connections for Tribal members and the technical skills to use high-speed Internet to its fullest potential.

Digital Equity Workshop

Using guidance from the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth’s (OICG) Local Event Planning, the Nebraska Digital Equity Manager, Economic Development Districts, and Tribal Representatives conducted a Digital Equity Workshop on August 8, 2023, which involved over 60 stakeholders with the purpose of developing the goals and objectives to support the state’s Digital Equity Plan.

The Nebraska Broadband Office used OICG’s BEAD planning funds for travel support and led or participated in six different Tribal Consultations in March and April 2023. This generated dozens of valuable comments and identified unmet needs from Tribal leaders. NTIA’s TBCP staff and the Nebraska Federal Program Officer (FPO) also attended.

Connecting Nebraska through BEAD

In partnership with the Nebraska Broadband Office, NTIA planned and allocated a historic $405 million investment in Nebraska’s broadband infrastructure through the BEAD Program. Allocation of these funds will result in the connection of unserved and underserved locations across the state to high-speed Internet, creating economic opportunities and jobs in communities of all sizes.

Mapping Challenges

After attending jointly sponsored webinars by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and OICG Technical Assistance Team, the Nebraska Public Service Commission submitted a bulk availability challenge to the FCC in January 2023.