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Nearly $31 million in public money will go towards connecting over 3,000 unserved and underserved locations in Nebraska’s 3rd congressional district.
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Thousands of unserved and underserved locations in Nebraska’s 3rd congressional district, which makes up most of the state’s geography, will soon be connected if all goes according to plan.
The Nebraska Public Service Commission awarded broadband funding for 28 grant applications this month.
In total, the state considered 60 grant applications, according to a release from the Nebraska Public Service Commission.
The funds awarded are all part of Nebraska’s Capital Projects Fund (CPF) grant program for broadband, which is now in its second round.
The deadline for completion of second round CPF broadband projects in Nebraska’s 3rd congressional district is December 2025, according to the Nebraska Public Service Commission’s June 4 release.
The 3rd congressional district in Nebraska is massive. It stretches across the state, excluding areas around Omaha, from the border with Missouri to the border with Colorado.
“By initiating a second round we were able to utilize funds designated for the 3rd congressional district that were not awarded during the previous round of CPF grants,” said Commission Chair Dan Watermeier, according to the commission’s announcement.
Grants for broadband from CPF funds are required, statutorily, to be awarded in Nebraska’s 1st and 3rd congressional districts.
Thus far, the commission’s release stated that approximately $40 million in funding for broadband has been awarded in both districts.
“To date, the (Public Service Commission) has awarded more than $85 million through the CPF grant program for broadband buildout to unserved and underserved areas of the state,” the commission’s announcement read.
According to the release, the second round of grant funding for broadband will bring high-speed internet access to approximately 1,640 unserved and 1,570 underserved locations.
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