Neb. PSC Awards $20.3M for Broadband

The Nebraska Public Service Commission awarded about $20.3 million under the Nebraska Broadband Bridge Program (NBBP), the PSC said Tuesday. The agency's four Republican commissioners voted to adopt an order to award 37 grants to 14 providers. Democratic Commissioner Crystal Rhoades, not present for the vote, previously raised process concerns (see 2203220078). The PSC narrowed down an initial list of 115 applications through challenge and scoring processes, it said. Awarded projects must be completed by June 6, 2024. The commission spent many hours reviewing applications and challenges and continues to make improvements to the grant process, Commissioner Tim Schram (R) said at the livestreamed meeting. The NBBP program’s second year surpassed the first, Chair Dan Watermeier (R) said in a statement. “We have a good process in place and are eager to provide funding to continue broadband buildout to unserved and underserved Nebraskans.”