NEBRASKA — The Nebraska Broadband Office is seeking public comment leading up to October 14 on the Nebraska Broadband Availability Map.
Under the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, the state will receive just over $405M to connect every household and business who does not yet have access.
“Across the state we encourage residents, community organizations, businesses, and local authorities, to participate in the public comment period,” per the Nebraska Broadband Office (NBO.)
The first draft of the map focuses “on identifying existing funding, unserved and underserved locations, community anchor institutions, and creating a challenge process to ensure an accurate map,” per the NBO.
“The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) put together location-based maps that determined how much funding Nebraska would receive to finish our broadband build out,” per the NBO.
The NBO is required to submit an Initial Proposal to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
The map can be viewed at https://ndot.info/community and public comment can be left at the same link.
There are also several chances for in-person discussion at meetings held by the NBO. Meetings across the state include:
- Grand Island, Sept. 27, 4-6 p.m., Bosselman Conference Center, 700 E Stolley Park Rd.
- Valentine, Oct. 3, 4-6 p.m., Niobrara Lodge, 803 E Hwy 20
- North Platte, Oct. 9, 4-6 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 300 Holiday Frontage Rd.
- McCook, Oct. 10, 5-7 p.m., Cobblestone Inn, 1301 US-83
