LINCOLN- A state commission that hands out grants to expand high-speed internet services decided to reject a request to reconsider a $535,500 grant that overlapped with another broadband project. Dan Watermeier, the chair of the Nebraska Public Service Commission, said Nextlink Internet failed to follow proper procedure by not challenging the grant given to a competitor, Pinpoint Communications, to deliver high-speed internet to the same area near Beatrice.

In its order denying the reconsideration, the PSC stated that Nextlink did not meet the deadline to challenge the Pinpoint grant and that the commission lacked specific, detailed information to determine whether Nextlink could serve the contested locations within 18 months, as required by the state-funded Broadband Bridge program.

During the 2023 grant cycle, the PSC received 51 applications for Broadband Bridge grants and approved 22 projects at a cost of $19.7 million. Those projects must be completed by July 9, 2025. Last year, as part of the Biden administration’s “internet for all” initiative, Nebraska received $405 million in federal funds to expand affordable, reliable high-speed internet service.

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