Neb. Commissioner Raises Concerns with $18M Broadband Grants
Despite one commissioner's objection, the Nebraska Public Service Commission awarded nearly $18 million in grants under the $40 million Nebraska Broadband Bridge Program, the PSC said Tuesday. The commission voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve the order, with Commissioner Crystal Rhoades…
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(D) dissenting. The PSC accepted 60 applications from 19 providers and rejected 16 applications. Applications and challenges didn’t get “full and fair review” and the awards “may not be the best use of this program’s funds,” said Rhoades, the commission's lone Democrat. Challenges weren’t held to standards set in the program guide, she said. “Because of this, more challenges were upheld than should have been, meaning that applications which should have been approved were not.” Rhoades said she was frustrated by carriers refusing to provide individual customer information due to customer proprietary network information confidentiality concerns, and “unimpressed with most of the applicants’ digital inclusion plans.” Winning applicants included Windstream, Consolidated Communications, Great Plains Communications and Nebraska Central Telephone Co.