Rural Broadband Task Force Update
June 2019
Overview
Nebraska’s Rural Broadband Task Force was created to “review issues relating to availability, adoption, and affordability of broadband services in rural areas of Nebraska” by LB 994, which was passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Ricketts on April 17, 2018.
The 14-member task force is chaired by Ed Toner, State of Nebraska CIO and Chair of the Nebraska Information Technology Commission. Other members include:
- Senator Curt Friesen, Chair, Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, Nebraska Legislature;
- Senator Bruce Bostelman, Nebraska Legislature;
- Mary Ridder, Commissioner and Chair, Nebraska Public Service Commission;
- Dave Rippe, Director, Nebraska Department of Economic Development;
- Steve Wellman, Director, Nebraska Department of Agriculture;
- Zachary Hunnicutt, Farmer, Hunnicutt Farms;
- Isaiah Graham, Vice-President, Homestead Bank;
- Tom Shoemaker, President, Pinpoint Communications;
- Daniel Spray, Owner, Precision Technology, Inc.;
- Timothy Lindahl, CEO/General Manager, Wheat Belt Public Power District;
- Anna Turman, Division CIO, Catholic Health Initiative;
- Andrew Buker, Executive Director of Infrastructure Services, University of Nebraska; and
- Ron Cone, Director of Network Information Services, ESU 10.
Gathering Information
The task force has been studying issues related to accelerating broadband deployment in Nebraska and developing recommendations. The task force began by inviting stakeholders and subject matter experts to share information on the following topics:
- Nebraska’s broadband map,
- Broadband availability and adoption data,
- The Nebraska Universal Service Fund and Connect America Fund,
- Nebraska broadband programs, studies and initiatives,
- Broadband technologies,
- What other states are doing,
- Wyoming’s broadband plan and mapping effort,
- Public-private partnerships,
- Middle mile costs,
- Rights-of-way,
- Broadband funding,
- Broadband costs and speed test studies,
- Agricultural technology and broadband,
- The E-rate program, and
- The homework gap.
Subcommittees
Much of the Rural Broadband Task Force’s work is being done by five subcommittees: the Nebraska Universal Service Fund (NUSF), Broadband Data, Broadband Technologies, Public-Private Partnerships, and Homework Gap/Leveraging Funding Subcommittees.
The Nebraska Universal Service Fund (NUSF) Subcommittee is examining “the role of the Nebraska Telecommunications Universal Service Fund in bringing comparable and affordable broadband services to rural residents and any effect of the fund in deterring or delaying capital formation, broadband competition, and broadband deployment.” Subcommittee members include Mary Ridder, Nebraska Public Service Commission; Tom Shoemaker, Pinpoint Communications and Dan Spray, Precision Technology, Inc.
The Broadband Data Subcommittee is addressing issues related to broadband data. The subcommittee was asked to answer the following questions:
- What data we currently have?
- What data we need?
- How can we get the data we need but don’t have?
Subcommittee members include Senator Bruce Bostelman, Nebraska Legislature; Andrew Buker, University of Nebraska; Dan Spray, Precision Technology, Inc. and Anna Turman, Catholic Health Initiative.
The Broadband Technologies Subcommittee is reviewing “the feasibility of alternative technologies and providers in accelerating access to faster and more reliable broadband service for rural residents.” Subcommittee members include Zachary Hunnicutt, Hunnicutt Farms; Ron Cone, EUS 10 and Dan Spray, Precision Technology, Inc.
The Public-Private Partnerships Subcommittee is examining how public-private partnerships could best be leveraged to accelerate access to faster broadband in rural areas. Subcommittee members include Tim Lindahl, Wheat Belt Public Power District and Tom Shoemaker, Pinpoint Communications.
The Homework Gap/Leveraging Funding Subcommittee is identifying strategies to address the homework gap and making recommendations on leveraging universal service and other funding especially for schools and libraries. Subcommittee members include Andrew Buker, University of Nebraska; Ron Cone, ESU 10 and Dan Spray, Precision Technologies, Inc.
Upcoming Meetings and Opportunities for Public Comment
Over the next few months, subcommittees will be finalizing their findings and recommendations. The subcommittees will present their findings and recommendations to the Rural Broadband Task Force in August and September. In October, the task force will approve its report to the Legislature, which is due by Nov. 1.
Here are the summer and fall meeting dates:
- Friday, August 16 at 9:30 a.m. CT at the Governor's Mansion, 1425 H St in Lincoln
- Friday, September 20 at 9:30 a.m. CT at Varner Hall, 3835 Holdrege Street in Lincoln
- Friday, Oct. 18 at 9:30 a.m. CT at Varner Hall, 3835 Holdrege Street in Lincoln
Rural Broadband Task Force meetings are open to the public. The September and October meetings will also be webcast. The Rural Broadband Task Force is planning to schedule time for public comment at the meeting on September 20. Interested stakeholders may also submit written comments by going to https://ruralbroadband.nebraska.gov/contact/contact.php .
A draft of the report will be made available prior to the October 18 meeting. Written comments can be submitted via the link above.
For More Information
More information on the Rural Broadband Task Force is available at ruralbroadband.nebraska.gov .