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:

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:

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:

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:

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 .