Nebraska

Survey illustrates internet access disparities for Nebraskans

Published

2 years ago

June 6, 2024

Survey illustrates internet access disparities for Nebraskans

A University of Nebraska–Lincoln survey shows a majority of Nebraskans report mostly or very dependable internet access, but disparities persist between urban and rural residents.

In the latest Nebraska Snapshot from the Bureau of Sociological Research, 45% of statewide respondents said they have very dependable internet, with 41% of Nebraskans reporting mostly dependable access. Only 14% said their internet was somewhat dependable to not dependable at all. The Nebraska Snapshot is released every other month and shares data from the most recent Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey, conducted by the bureau.

When accounting for place of residence, only 26% of Nebraskans living on a farm or in open country each reported having very dependable internet. Further, 46% of those living on a farm reported mostly dependable internet, and 28% reported having somewhat to not dependable internet. For those in open country, 52% reported mostly dependable internet, compared to 22% reporting somewhat to not dependable internet.

In contrast, 50% of those who lived in a town or city reported having very dependable internet, with 39% rating their internet mostly dependable and only 11% reporting somewhat to not dependable internet.

Internet speed also varied by place of residence. Statewide, 33% reported very fast internet, and 56% reported somewhat fast internet. In towns and cities, 37% said they had very fast internet, in contrast to only 16% of those living on a farm and 17% of those in open country. Additionally, 37% of those living on farms reported having somewhat or very slow internet, compared to 20% living in open country and only 8% of those living in a city or town. A majority of those living in towns and cities, on farms and in open country reported having somewhat fast internet — 55%, 48% and 64%, respectively.

Noteworthy differences among age groups, income levels and education level were also found.

Internet access, and specifically broadband, has been a priority in Nebraska for several years, and gains are being made to connect more of the state’s residents. Among the efforts is the Nebraska Broadband Bridge Program, created by the Legislature in 2021. It allocated $20 million to be distributed as grants to telecommunications companies for expansion of broadband service to areas of Nebraska that were unserved or underserved by slower internet speeds. The state also received federal funding for increasing broadband access through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the bipartisan infrastructure act passed in 2023. In the last quarter of 2023, the Nebraska Broadband Office estimated there was $1.9 billion in funding to expand access across the state.

The Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey is used by researchers, state entities and policymakers, but also includes a core questionnaire that delves into demographics, quality of life measures, educational attainment and community satisfaction, among other variables. These core questions will inform most of the Nebraska Snapshot series.

All Nebraska Snapshots are available online. To include research questions on the next NASIS administration, email bosr@unl.edu.

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Nebraska

Nebraska Shows It’s a Team on the Road to Possible Greatness

Published

2 hours ago

January 24, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska Shows It’s a Team on the Road to Possible Greatness

Teams take many paths to greatness. What Nebraska did at Minnesota on Saturday afternoon is how a good team — a very good team — becomes great.

When a team defeats a quality opponent at a tough venue like Williams Arena, without one of their main players and three others with three fouls, and comes from behind to do it, you have a team taking their own gilded path to greatness.

The seventh-ranked Huskers, an astounding 20-0 on the season, showed all of this and more in their 76-57 win over the Golden Gophers. Nebraska trailed, 36-30, at the half, then outscored the stunned Gophers, 46-21.

“We challenged them. We challenged them hard at halftime,” Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said in a postgame news conference. “Championship teams respond the right way and that’s exactly what our guys did.

“I felt fortunate to only be down six at halftime … We didn’t play a great offensive game in that first half and we were only down two possessions. So that’s what I left it with. If we went out and turned it around and got it back to being who we are, we were gonna have a chance to win the game.”

Pryce Sandfort, stepping up again with valuable reserve Braden Frager out with a sprained ankle, scored 20 of his 22 points in that fateful second half.

Sandfort was so hot that after making yet another basket in the second half, gave the Michael Jordan shrug with his arms outstretched and a big smile to his bench and the large number of Nebraska fans in Minneapolis.

“We were going to keep going to him,” said Huskers guard Jamarques Lawrence, who had 14 points, five rebounds and five assists. “We keep believing in him.”

Sandfort also had a career-high 10 rebounds and four blocked shots.

“I thought we rebounded the ball well,” Hoiberg said. “I love Pryce. His 22 points is great, but the 10 rebounds, the four blocks, that shows toughness.”

Huskers’ all-around game

There was more to like about the Huskers. How about 24 assists on 29 baskets. And 48 percent shooting from the floor. Nebraska only had eight turnovers. Nebraska also made all nine of its foul shots.

“I think this team is very mature,” Huskers guard Sam Hoiberg said in a postgame news conference. “We’ve talked about that and I never felt any sort of panic in our body language. Coaches jumped us at halftime, thought they [Minnesota] were playing harder than us. That’s all it really was. There was no panic, though.”

And the Nebraska defense? Simply, it was terrific.

“I thought our defense was really on point,” Fred Hoiberg said.”That’s what I thought turned the game around. We weren’t taking the ball out of the net every time down the floor and we got Pryce loose finally after missing a couple.

“That’s the confidence he’s playing with right now. I think it was 0-for-4 or 5 to start and he got rolling and our guys did a really good job finding him.”

Minnesota shot 9-of-31 from distance (29 percent) and 21-of-53 from the floor (40 percent). The Huskers had eight blocks. They had five steals.

Sam Hoiberg scored 14 points in the first half. He finished with 14 points. Several times in his scoreless second half, the point guard had opportunities to drive and maybe force a shot. He didn’t. Instead, he kept the ball moving, hit the open man and the smooth-flowing offense cooking.

Nebraska outrebounded the Gophers, 39-31. “We ended up outrebounding them after being down at halftime,” Fred Hoiberg said.

“The good teams, they find a way. Things weren’t going great but again the second half, we’ve done a really good job coming out of the locker room and I just thought we played with so much more urgency.”

Nebraska guard Jamarques Lawrence celebrates his three-point basket against Minnesota during the second half at Williams Arena. | Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Nebraska had excellent ball movement which led to so many open shots. And with so many excellent shooters, the Huskers are going knock down more than their share of open looks.

“The fact that they’ve done this now on the road a couple of times and just had that killer instinct,” Fred Hoiberg said. “It’s important to know you can do it.”

Now, Nebraska gets its possible season-defining game Tuesday at third-ranked Michigan.

“You know, I asked them the same question I always ask in the locker room,” Fred Hoiberg said. “Are you satisfied? To a man, they said no. And you know we got an unbelievable opportunity in front of us against what I think is arguably the best team in the country.”

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Nebraska

No. 6 Nebraska wrestling breaks attendance record in loss to No. 4 Iowa

Published

14 hours ago

January 24, 2026

Press Room

No. 6 Nebraska wrestling breaks attendance record in loss to No. 4 Iowa

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – A record crowd packed the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Friday night in Lincoln, but sixth-ranked Nebraska came up short in a 22-14 loss to No. 4 Iowa in a marquee Big Ten dual.

The announced attendance of 7,891 set a new program record, breaking the previous mark of 7,094 set in December.

Nebraska claimed four bouts on the night, highlighted by Brock Hardy’s milestone victory.

Hardy, ranked No. 3 at 141 pounds, earned a 1-0 decision over No. 10 Nasir Bailey to secure his 100th career dual win. The victory made Hardy the 33rd wrestler in Nebraska history to reach the milestone.

Iowa built an early advantage by winning four of the first five bouts.

The Hawkeyes clinched the dual at 184 when Gabe Arnold defeated No. 7 Silas Allred 4-1 to extend the Hawkeyes’ lead to 22-6.

Nebraska will remain at home Sunday to host No. 2 Ohio State. The dual is scheduled for a 1 p.m. CT start and will stream on B1G+.

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