Changes in federal broadband programs upset advocates for rural Nebraska

County officials and advocates for rural development cried foul over recent changes in a federal initiative to expand access to high-speed internet, saying they will force thousands in rural Nebraska to settle for second-rate broadband. County Commissioner Misty Ahmic of Milford was part of a county task force dedicated to bringing high-speed internet to so-called “dark territories” in the county. It spent four years holding town hall meetings, polling local residents about their internet service, and challenging inaccuracies in a federal map showing where the internet is supposedly high speed. That work identified 1,724 locations in Seward County that would be eligible for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program. But much of that work, in one advocate’s words, went “poof” after the task force was informed about new changes to the BEAD program to cut costs. Now, only 629 locations in Seward County are eligible for a portion of the $405 million in grants available in Nebraska. In addition, the priority was changed—instead of prioritizing more reliable, easily upgraded fiber optic service, BEAD now gives more deference to cheaper-to-build alternatives, including satellite service like Elon Musk’s Starlink or fixed wireless.