Neb. PSC Grants Dish Wireless ETC Application, Censures 2 Commissioners

Dish Wireless will be designated as an eligible telecom carrier (ETC) in Nebraska. The Public Service Commission voted 5-0 Tuesday for the order in docket NUSF-137. Nebraska commissioners voted 3-2 after a closed session to censure Commissioners Christian Mirch (R) and Kevin Stocker (R), the PSC said. The vote followed an independent investigation into alleged misconduct, the agency said. “We shouldn’t need a code of conduct to tell us that as elected officials we are accountable for our actions,” said Chair Dan Watermeier (R). “It is my expectation that by voting to censure, we are sending the message that as Commissioners we hold ourselves to the highest of standards and will not tolerate this kind of behavior.” Mirch and Stocker voted no. The PSC didn’t disclose the alleged misconduct. Mirch and Stocker in a statement denied misconduct allegations and slammed the other three commissioners’ decision: “Instead of waiting to obtain an official opinion on a matter of public concern from the Nebraska Attorney General, the Commission acted beyond its statutory authority, without just cause, and without having the benefit of a complete investigation.” The PSC should instead be investigating lengthy telephone and broadband outages, said the commissioners, calling the censure vote a “diversion.” The commission majority “remains largely silent” on recent statewide 911 outages (see 2309120046), they added.