Affordable Broadband is the Way to Improve Lives and Grow the Economy in Nebraska

Nebraska is aiming to connect 99 percent of homes and businesses with reliable and affordable high-speed internet access by 2027. Based on June 2023 data, 12-15 percent of Nebraska’s locations are unserved or underserved, and approximately 105,000 households lack acceptable access to the internet. An unfavorable business case for investment, especially in rural areas, has resulted in limited access. Major factors in the adoption gap are affordability, devices, and literacy. Nebraska's vision for digital equity is for Nebraskans to effectively use broadband to improve their lives and grow the economy. This means that all Nebraskans have access to high quality broadband service at prices that are affordable, and that everyone has the skills to use the service. But availability and affordability of broadband service were the two issues identified most frequently by participants in listening sessions across the state. Rural residents and people living in urban areas with high percentages of low-income households have the lowest rates of broadband access at home. Over one-third of Nebraskans live in rural areas. Members of households with annual incomes at 150 percent or less of the federal poverty level make up just over 18 percent of Nebraska’s population. Through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, Nebraska will receive $405 million to ensure every farm, home, and business in the state has access to high-speed internet. The Nebraska Broadband Office (NBO) within the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) is partnering with the state's eight economic development districts to design an equitable plan to bring reliable, affordable broadband to most of the population as soon as 2027.