Seward County will receive $9.2 million to help improve broadband infrastructure in eastern parts of the county currently unserved or underserved when it comes to internet access and speed.
The Nebraska Public Service Commission announced the nts June 26 as part of a $61 million package from the 2023 Capital Projects Fund Grant Program. In total, 65 entities across Nebraska received funds.
“There was 40 million to give to (approximately) 12 counties and we received nearly one quarter of that,” said Seward County Commissioner Misty Ahmic, who is involved with the county’s Broadband Task Force.
The funds were awarded to applicant Allo Communications LLC, which will use the money to improve internet connectivity at 518 locations in eastern Seward County, including those in Bee, Garland and north of Pleasant Dale, east of 224th Road to the county line.
“Rural broadband is our focus. We want to deal with the area with the highest population,” Ahmic said. “We also know there’s a lot of gaps in coverage over there. We’re really excited to be able to tackle that (area) first.”
“The Capital Projects Fund is another opportunity for qualified applicants to bring broadband to Nebraskans most in need of these services,” said Public Service Commission Chair Dan Watermeier. “Through this first round of grants, we are able to fund 65 eligible broadband projects.”
CPF grants were awarded by the PSC in Congressional Districts One and Three. At least $40 million in grant funding was available in each district for eligible broadband projects.
Ahmic said receiving the grant is the result of Allo’s partnership with the Broadband Task Force, which was launched by the Seward County Board of Commissioners in 2021 in collaboration with the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership.
The task force consists to two commissioners, SCCDP representatives, municipal representatives and community members from different parts of the county who contribute their ideas and needs when it comes to connectivity.
Ahmic said the task force put out a request for internet companies interested in working with the group to apply for the money. It received several responses but only one in-depth proposal.
During the 2023 CPF grant cycle, the PSC received 130 applications for funding. As part of the grant review process, the Commission also received challenges from parties stating that they already served an area covered by a grant application or that they plan to provide service to the area in the near future.
The task force took the issue to the county’s residents, asking them to challenge what those companies were reporting for speed and service in areas that did not actually have the connectivity.
“Part of applying for these funds is that the community gets to provide feedback, and that feedback plays really heavy on whether that project gets funded,” Ahmic said. “This is a result of being able to prove that those areas are not being served as reported.”
She said geographically, the eastern part of Seward County is rocky and has a lot of hills, making it difficult to provide traditional underground fiber service. Allo’s proposal stood out because it offered aerial fiber instead of boring through the ground.
Of the 65 grants awarded, 27 were awarded in Congressional District One, totaling $40.3 million, and 38 grants were awarded in District Three, totaling $21.03 million. Unused funds will be awarded through an additional round of grants, with those whose requests were denied encouraged to reapply.
Projects receiving grant awards during the 2023 grant cycle are required to be completed by Dec. 27, 2024, unless granted an extension by the PSC.
On June 27, U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer announced another $405 million in federal funding has been allocated to Nebraska to improve broadband in rural areas.
Ahmic said Seward County will apply for part of that funding as well to assist with connectivity in other areas of the county, though it will not duplicate areas where suitable service already exists.
“It’s really important and we’re excited to be able to do that,” Ahmic said.
