Nebraska
Reverse auction in Nebraska allocates unused and withheld broadband money – Broadband Communities
News
Winning bids from a reverse auction announced last month by the Nebraska Public Service Commission will help fund a broadband buildout to more than 1,100 previously unserved households in the state.
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Four entities have been awarded nearly $21 million to provide broadband capable voice service to rural areas of Nebraska where carriers Frontier and Windstream have traditionally provided only voice service, according to a recent announcement by the Nebraska Public Service Commission.
The auctions redistributed Nebraska Universal Service Fund support “that was either unused or withheld from the two companies,” the commission’s March 26 announcement stated.
The Nebraska Public Service Commision’s announcement reported that the commission awarded $5,726,880 of the $5,845,893 available in support for Windstream areas, and $15,235,366 of the $15,996,054.50 in funds available for Frontier areas.
Entities to win bids in the reverse auction included Great Plains Communications, the Hamilton Consortium, Midstates, and Pinpoint Communications.
Nebraska Public Service Commission Chair Dan Watermeier was happy with the outcome of reverse auction, the agency’s release stated.
“The bids awarded will help these companies connect unserved households in rural Nebraska,” he said.
The approximately $3.54 million awarded to Great Plains Communications in the reverse auction will help the company provide high-speed broadband fiber services to 310 households in the state, an April 10 announcement from the company announced.
“We applaud the Nebraska Public Service Commission for facilitating this reverse auction program to maximize available broadband funding to benefit more communities,” said Joe Pellegrini, the president and COO of Great Plains Communications. “We are looking forward to bringing high-speed fiber broadband services to more residents in these unserved areas of the state.”
Great Plains Communications detailed areas where their funding will go towards, and listed rural areas of Columbus, Hebron, Kearney, Madison, Mead, Monroe, Nebraska City, Palmer, Seward, and Superior.
A full catalog of areas that were awarded bids is available at the Nebraska Public Service Commission’s broadband map, which is available here online.
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The Nebraska baseball team has earned the No. 2 seed in next week’s Big Ten Baseball Tournament. The event is scheduled for May 19-24 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
Nebraska has a record of 41-14 overall and 23-7 in the conference. The UCLA Bruins earned the top seed with an impressive 48-6 record and a 28-2 mark in the Big Ten, with losses to Oregon and Washington.
The Huskers are set to play in the quarterfinal round on Friday at 5 p.m. CT. The opponent will be decided on Thursday afternoon. The Big Ten Championship Game will be played on Sunday, May 24, at 2 p.m. CT.
Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – A significant severe weather threat continues to unfold across Nebraska, with the Storm Prediction Center placing Lincoln in the path of potentially scattered to numerous severe storms through early next week.
WATCH LIKELY BY 4 PM
Severe thunderstorms are expected to develop out in western Nebraska this afternoon and evening. Winds up to 80 mph and hail up to tennis ball size are the main concerns though isolated tornadoes are possible as well.
Saturday Evening: Two Rounds of Storms
The first round of storms is possible late this afternoon, more likely this evening from the south. All severe weather hazards are on the table, including widely scattered strong tornadoes, damaging winds gusting up to if not above 75 mph and hail the size of limes to hen eggs or larger.
A second round of storms will move in late tonight from the west and continue into the overnight hours. While strong winds remain the primary concern, tornadoes and large hail are still possible.
Sunday: Tornado Risk Increases
A Weather Alert Day continues Sunday as the tornado threat escalates. The potential for strong tornadoes is rated high to very high across parts of central and northern Nebraska, especially in the northeastern portion of the state.
Wind gusts up to 75 mph and lime to hen egg sized hail remain possible. Storms are expected to develop late afternoon, with the greatest threat throughout the evening and into the overnight hours.
Monday: Greatest Overall Risk
Monday presents the greatest overall risk once again. A Weather Alert Day is in effect as widely scattered strong to intense tornadoes are possible, along with wind gusts up to 75 mph and hail ranging from baseball to softball sized. The primary timing window is late afternoon through the evening hours.
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