The Middle Mile Grants Program application period has elapsed. The Connect Nebraska Working Group (CNEW) received coordination forms from applications addressing broadband needs across the state.

Nationally, over 235 applications were submitted totaling more than $5.5 billion in funding. The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska was awarded $36,374,797 to its 100% Tribally owned subsidiary Quick Current LLC. This grant will cover currently unserved and underserved Tribal and adjacent rural areas in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa with a specific focus on providing Middle Mile infrastructure and services to the tribal and surrounding areas of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska and Iowa and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and Iowa.

The network will consist of 272 route miles of new fiber, 146 route miles of IRU dark fibers.