Initial Proposal Volume 2 Comment Period
Overview
Thank you for engaging in the process to connect your peers and neighbors to high-speed internet! Under the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, Nebraska 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 for Volume 2 of the Initial Proposal.
When you review the proposal (coming soon!), you will see the first draft of Nebraska’s Initial Proposal, Volume 2, which focuses on the subgrant process. For Nebraska to receive our $405M allocation, the State Broadband Office is required to submit an Initial Proposal to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). This outlines important technical information about how our office will use that funding to provide internet to all Nebraskans. The Nebraska Broadband Office will use your input to update the Initial proposal, Volume 2 prior to submission to the NTIA.
Initial Proposal Volume 2 Documents
- NBO BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2
- Local Coordination Tracker Tool
- Scoring Rubric 11.3.23
- Attachment Tribal Letters and Meeting Notes
- 2022 Nebraska State Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan
- Initial Proposal Volume 2 Presentation Slides
Public Meetings will be held to discuss Volume 2 of the Initial Proposal at the following locations:
- Sidney – 11/7 - Western Nebraska Community College, 371 S College Dr, Sidney, NE 69162, Room 1516, 5:30-7 PM
- Chadron – 11/8 - Holiday Inn Express, 247 Ash St, Chadron, NE, 5:30-7 PM
- O’Neill – 11/9 - The Evergreen, 300 Jeanette Way, O’Neill, NE, 5:30-7 PM
- Fairbury – 11/13 - Union Bank, 1313 K St, Fairbury, NE, 5:30-7 PM
- Springfield – 11/14 - Springfield Community Center, 170 N 3rd St, Springfield, NE, 5:30-7 PM
- Lincoln – 11/15 – NDOT HQ, 1500 Nebraska Parkway, Lincoln, NE, 5:30-7 PM
- Columbus – 11/16 - Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, 753 33rd Ave, Columbus, NE, 5:30-7 PM
- Kearney – 11/20 - Holiday Inn, 110 2nd Ave, Kearney, NE, 5:30-7 PM
- Ogallala – 11/21 - Holiday Inn Express, 206 Pony Express Lane, Ogallala NE, 5:30-7 PM
Comments to Volume 2 of the BEAD Initial Proposal should be submitted at a public meeting, through the form above, or via email to NDOT.BroadbandOffice@nebraska.gov by 11:59 PM CT on Wednesday, December 13, for review and consideration.
Additional Information
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) put together location-based maps that determined how much funding Nebraska would receive to finish our broadband build out ($405M). The Nebraska Broadband Office is now creating a grant program where internet service providers can apply to receive funding to bring service to those citizens and businesses who still lack internet access.
Volume One of the Initial Proposal primarily focuses on how we will run the ‘State Challenge Process.’ During the State Challenge Process, internet service providers, governments, and nonprofits will review the State Broadband Map for correctness and use the process outlined in this document to file ‘challenges’ to address data that they believe is incorrect. Ultimately, the information that is submitted will be verified by the Nebraska Broadband Office and be used as the official list of eligible locations. So, if you aren’t on the list and need to be, you will have to challenge the map!
Provider location ID's:
Contact Information
If you have any questions or issues submitting feedback, please email our team at NDOT.BroadbandOffice@Nebraska.gov
Initial Proposal Volume 1 Comment Period
Nebraska Five Year Action Plan
On behalf of Governor Pillen, the Nebraska Broadband Office (NBO) is pleased to present the Nebraska Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Five-Year Action Plan.
The Federal BEAD program awarded Nebraska $405 million for high-speed Internet access. This federal grant program, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act goal is to provide universal internet by funding partnerships between states or territories, communities, and stakeholders to build infrastructure where needed to and increase adoption of high-speed internet. BEAD prioritizes unserved locations that have no internet access or that only have access under 25/3 Mbps and underserved locations only have access under 100/20 Mbps.
This work requires the creation of a 5-Year Action Plan detailing the vision, current state of broadband and digital inclusion, obstacles and barriers and an implementation plan for universal service. The plan includes a comprehensive broadband needs assessment and establishes the state's goal of providing all Nebraskans with robust, high-speed internet connections, along with the tools and skills needed to make the most of opportunities enabled by broadband access.
Read the full plan below.
