LINCOLN- If you lack internet or have slow speeds in your area of Nebraska, now is the time to let the state know. State officials want to verify the accuracy of their statewide broadband coverage map before awarding $405 million in federal grants to bring fast broadband or wireless internet to those areas. State officials have identified 70,000 unserved businesses, commercial buildings, apartments, houses or other structures.

Patrick Redmond, deputy director of the state's new Broadband Office, said he doesn't want to learn of gaps in coverage after the money's awarded. “The reason that this is important, that we go through this challenge process, is because this is how it’s going to update our map, to make our maps accurate, such that when we’re breaking out the $405 million it’s all going to the right place," Redmond said.

The Nebraska Broadband Office will be producing an interactive version of its map into which people can type in their address and see what the government says their availability is. The state's plan is to deploy the interactive map in late July or early August. The state has not yet set a deadline for reporting challenges. There will be a 90-day notice of the deadline, they said. Broadband is needed across the state, officials say, for telehealth, education, jobs, shopping, entertainment and agriculture.

For the full article click HERE