LINCOLN- Following several days of contentious debate, the Nebraska Legislature on Friday voted to advance LB683, a bill introduced by the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee at the behest of Gov. Jim Pillen that would establish a new state office dedicated to expanding broadband services across Nebraska. The bill advanced through its first round of debate on a 43-2 vote.

The Broadband Office was created in January following an executive order from Gov. Jim Pillen, and doesn't technically need the bill to pass to begin functioning. However, the bill aims to clarify the responsibilities of the new office, especially when it comes to the large influx of federal dollars expected to arrive in Nebraska.

Sen. Suzanne Geist, the chair of the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, said during debate that between $100 million and $400 million in federal dollars is expected to come to the state through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. The new office would be housed under the Nebraska Department of Transportation, with Pillen in an oversight role.

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