Gage County (NE) selects firm for ARPA-backed broadband project

Gage County, Nebraska, has selected a contractor to improve high-speed broadband access in the county. The county would make use of $4.2 million in American Rescue plan Act funding toward an estimated $11 million to $12 million project. County Supervisor Emily Haxby noted that the project will complement a federally supported project to provide a licensed fixed wireless service for the southeast part of the county, where plowing fiberoptic was not feasible. County supervisors also approved a contract with Universal Broadband Consulting to negotiate an agreement with Nextlink….and approved a memorandum of understanding with Nebraska Public Power District, to share costs of a study of broadband infrastructure development. NPPD would pick up half the cost of the estimated $20,000 study. Norris Public Power District and five counties would split the remaining costs.