LINCOLN- Public input at a string of upcoming meetings will be sought concerning the quality and availability of high-speed internet across Nebraska, as well as how federal funding should be spent to provide internet to the most significant amount of communities. The sessions are designed to help the state develop a more comprehensive approach to providing quality digital access across the state.

The meetings will be led by the newly-established Nebraska Broadband Office, which was recently confirmed by the Nebraska Legislature after Gov. Pillen created the office through an executive order in January. The office will be tasked with distributing around $42 billion in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program funding, which was passed as part of President Biden's infrastructure bill.

However, if a greater need for funding and access is revealed at the public meetings, Nebraska has the ability to apply for more BEAD funding, with the assurance of receiving at least $100 million more if need be. On Tuesday, the Public Service Commission transferred the responsibility of handling the BEAD funds to the new broadband office. The public meetings are as follow:

Kearney, June 8 at 6:30 p.m., at the Kearney Public Library, 2020 First St.
North Platte, June 13 at 5:30 p.m., at the Harvest Christian Fellowship, 1501 S. Dewey St.
McCook, June 14 at 5:30 p.m., at the Public Safety Center, 505 W. C St.
Broken Bow, June 21 at 5:30 p.m., at the Broken Bow Public Library, 626 D St.
South Sioux City, June 29 at 5:30 p.m., at the South Sioux City Marriott Riverfront, 385 E. Fourth St.
Lincoln, July 11 at 5:30 p.m., at the Nebraska Department of Transportation Auditorium, 1500 Nebraska Parkway.
Omaha, July 12 at 5:30 p.m., at the NDOT State Operations Center, 4425 S. 108th St.

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