Contact NBO: nbo.admin@nebraska.gov
The Nebraska Broadband Office (NBO) conducted the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Challenge Process to properly identify locations eligible for funding from the BEAD program. The intent of this process was to correct broadband availability data and ensure that funding decisions were based on the most accurate and up-to-date information available.
The challenge window was open from March 15, 2024, through April 14, 2024. During this period, residents and businesses across Nebraska were encouraged to review their service information on the state broadband map and identify any discrepancies. Locations were classified as served (access to service speeds ≥100/20 Mbps or served through an enforceable commitment), underserved (access to service speeds ≥25/3 Mbps but <100/20 Mbps), or unserved (access to service speeds <25/3 Mbps).
To participate, residents and businesses were required to work through designated advocates. Advocates were local or tribal governments, nonprofits, and internet service providers (ISPs) who were responsible for submitting challenges through the challenge portal. Advocates were required to obtain a CostQuest Tier E license and register with NBO to access the challenge portal. ISPs participating in the process obtained a CostQuest Tier D license to access the portal for challenge review and rebuttal. A total of 48 governmental or non-profits and 37 ISPs were registered advocates.
Submissions could be made for individual locations or as multi-location challenges. Multi-location submissions included area challenges, which required at least six locations within the same census block group, and multiple dwelling unit (MDU) challenges, which required at least three units or 10 percent of total units, whichever was greater. All locations included in a multi-location challenge were required to involve the same provider and technology.
A total of 11 challenge types were accepted, including availability, speed, latency, data caps, technology discrepancies, business-only service classification, enforceable commitments, planned service, and Community Anchor Institution (CAI) designation or misclassification. All challenges were required to include documented evidence meeting minimum standards established by NBO and aligned with federal BEAD requirements. Evidence varied by challenge type and included provider correspondence, service availability documentation, installation records or quotes, and standardized speed test results conducted under defined conditions. Challenges that did not meet minimum evidence requirements were subject to rejection.
ISPs named in a challenge were automatically notified via email and were given 30 calendar days from the date of notification to submit a rebuttal. If a provider did not supply a designated point of contact, publication of the challenge on NBO’s website served as official notification. Providers were required to submit their strongest available evidence in rebuttal.
Challenged locations were published and updated weekly throughout the process to ensure transparency. These postings also served as official notification to providers when direct contact information was not available. Challenge statuses were tracked as “Challenged” (submitted), “Disputed” (rebutted), and “Determined” (adjudicated and closed). In cases where a challenge was marked “Determined” without a rebuttal, it typically indicated the challenge was rejected due to insufficient evidence.
Following the rebuttal phase, NBO reviewed all submitted challenges and supporting documentation and issued final determinations. Final determinations were published at the conclusion of the process. All NBO determinations were considered final pending approval by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
The final, NTIA-approved post-challenge results, including location classifications and Community Anchor Institution (CAI) updates, were made publicly available for download. As part of this process, all locations and classifications were reconciled with version 4 of the FCC Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric to ensure alignment with federal data standards.
Throughout the challenge process, NBO maintained a publicly accessible FAQ page to provide guidance, clarify requirements, and support stakeholders navigating the process.
While the BEAD Challenge Process was intended to serve as the final opportunity to correct the map, subsequent federal guidance required additional updates. Following the June 6, 2025, Revised Policy Notice (RPN) issued by NTIA, locations were re-evaluated using version 5 of the FCC Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric. As a result, certain locations and classifications were updated outside of the formal challenge process to ensure continued alignment with federal requirements and the most current available data.
The Nebraska BEAD Challenge Process ensured a transparent, evidence-based validation of broadband availability data and strengthened the integrity of the state’s BEAD funding decisions.
NTIA approved final post challenge results can be downloaded here:
Contact NBO: nbo.admin@nebraska.gov