LINCOLN- The state is “in a good position” funding-wise to deliver broadband internet to the state’s unserved and underserved areas, opening opportunities in telehealth and precision agriculture, a federal official said last week. Brendan Carr, a member of the Federal Communications Commission, spoke after attending a roundtable meeting on hosted by Sen. Deb Fischer.

“A lot of other states are actually struggling,” Carr said. “They’re going to fall short of infrastructure dollars to deliver on the goal that we all have.” But even if Nebraska is on the right track, extending internet across the state via fiber, fixed wireless and satellite systems could take several years, Fischer said. Nebraska last year learned it would receive $405.3 million in federal money to extend broadband internet to areas where it’s not available or too slow.

The money comes from the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, which Congress authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. The BEAD Program provides money for states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to utilize for broadband deployment, mapping, equity and adoption projects.

For the full article click HERE