Great Plains Communications Awarded $2.8M in Nebraska Broadband Bridge Funding

Great Plains Communications (GPC) has been awarded more than $2.8 million of Nebraska Broadband Bridge Program funding by the Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC). The funds will be utilized to deploy fiber to 10 projects in various areas of Nebraska, with GPC providing a 25 percent funding match of nearly $940K.

Once the projects are completed, residents in at least 247 homes will have access to fiber services including symmetrical internet speeds up to 1 Gbps. The Legislature passed the Broadband Bridge Program in 2021 to facilitate and fund broadband network development to unserved and underserved areas of Nebraska.

“We are grateful for the Broadband Bridge Program funding that will help us continue to close the rural digital divide in Nebraska by bringing fiber to these areas,” said Todd Foje, CEO of Great Plains Communications. “We commend the Nebraska Public Service Commission for their leadership in administering these rural broadband programs as they continue to allocate funding to achieve broadband access for all Nebraskans regardless of where they live.”

The Nebraska Public Service Commission is responsible for administering grant funding to providers for qualifying projects.

Now that funding has been awarded, project planning for deployment will begin in January 2023. Under the program’s guidelines, projects must be completed within 18 months of the funding award date.