PSC Awards Internet Enhancement Fund Grants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  PSC Awards Internet Enhancement Fund Grants

Lincoln, May 6, 2020 – The Nebraska Public Service Commission
(PSC) has awarded two $25,000 grants from the Nebraska Internet
Enhancement Fund (NIEF) to Dawes and Deuel Counties for 2020.

“These monies will be used to further efforts to help ensure rural
Nebraskans receive access to internet and telecommunication
services,”said Commissioner Mary Ridder, Chairman Nebraska
Public Service Commission. “It is our hope this grant will lead to
future projects that will help to enhance rural and economic
development in these areas.”

The grant approved for Dawes County will be used to help fund a
project to bring fiber to several homes in the rural Belmont area of
the county. The grant for Deuel County will enable upgrades to a
fixed wireless  network in and around the communities of Big
Springs and Chappell. These upgrades will allow speeds of 50
megabits per second (Mbps) download/ 10 Mbps upload to
residences in the area.

Established in 2001 by the Nebraska Legislature, the NIEF uses a
share of the proceeds from public entities that lease dark fiber optics
to fund grants for infrastructure projects that deliver broadband or
other advanced telecommunications products. The grants focus on
areas of the state that are unserved or underserved by such services.

To date the PSC has awarded $800,000 in funds from the NIEF to a
number of cities and counties across the state.

Commissioner Ridder said, “We were pleased with the number and
quality of applications received and hope to award more grants in the
future.”

for more information on applying for a NIEF grant visit the
NIEF information page of the PSC website @ http://tiny.cc/PSCNIEF
Information ###

Contact:
Deb Collins- Media & Communications Mgr.
(402) 471-0226
deb.collins@nebraska.gov