Final Proposal (Draft)
The Nebraska Broadband Office (NBO) is excited to announce its provisional awards under the Nebraska Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (NBEAD) program, a federally funded initiative administered through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). This milestone marks a major achievement for Nebraska, keeping the state competitive and ensuring all Nebraskans have the broadband access they need to succeed in daily life and work, today and tomorrow.
The draft Final Proposal outlines how NBO conducted the NBEAD program, the selection process, and names provisional subgrantees for select broadband project areas across the state. Following a public comment period from September 3-10, 2025, the proposal will be submitted to NTIA for final approval.
In June, NTIA released a Revised Policy Notice (RPN) that significantly changed what locations could be funded as well as how states consider various technologies, score broadband applications, and make awards. NBO worked diligently to ensure Nebraskans receive the best technology possible while maintaining compliance with NTIA.
Under the new guidance, NBO identified an opportunity to allocate funds to connect Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs). These facilities, such as libraries, schools, and health centers, are vital community hubs that serve vulnerable populations and expand access to broadband-based services. Under NBEAD, CAIs are required to be connected by 1 Gbps symmetrical fiber. Fiber deployment to CAIs may also create opportunities for broadband providers to expand into new service areas.
“We are connecting homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions with reliable, high-speed internet that will strengthen education, healthcare, and economic opportunity for years to come,” said NBO Director Patrick Haggerty. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, made possible by our team’s hard work, the dedication of the provider community, and the active engagement of Nebraskans across the state.”
↪ Read the Final Proposal Draft.
Attachments:
Exhibit A - Subgrantees
Exhibit B - Deployment Projects
Exhibit C - Locations
Exhibit D - No BEAD Locations
Exhibit E - CAIs
Exhibit F - BEAD Program Monitoring Plan
Exhibit G - NBO Agency Policy Documentation
Exhibit H - NBO Draft Subgrantee Agreement
Exhibit I - NBEAD Engineering Assessments
Exhibit J - Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) Documentation
Intent to Subgrant
This document serves as official notice to all Applicants who responded to the Requests for
Applications referenced above that NBO intends to issue Subgrants to the following Applicants:
Public Comment
The public comment period is closed.
NBO welcomed public comments on the draft of the Final Proposal. The comment period was open September 3 – September 10, 2025.
Public comments are an important part of ensuring transparency and community input in the planning process. Your feedback helps identify strengths, address concerns, and strengthen the proposal before it is finalized.
