Broken Bow council approves CARES-funded rural broadband partnership with Great Plains Communications

The Broken Bow City Council on June 4 approved a Rural Broadband Remote Access Grant Partnership with Great Plains Communications that uses federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

Councilmember Holcomb moved to approve the partnership; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Schmidt and passed on a unanimous roll call vote of 4-0. Mayor Rod Sonnichsen presided over the special meeting, which convened at 6:10 p.m. in the Municipal Auditorium.

Andrew Ambriz, executive director of the Custer Economic Development Corporation, briefed the council on the program, saying, "there is about $40 million that has been allocated to assist communities between 1,000 and 5,000 in population in building out the fiber home access with minimum speeds of 50 megabit download and 50 megabit upload." He described the funding as federal dollars being allocated by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development under the CARES Act to support fiber internet connections in rural Nebraska.

The ordinance/partnership approval authorizes the city to participate in the state-run grant program and to partner with Great Plains Communications to extend fiber-to-the-home service under the program’s terms. The transcript does not specify contract terms, schedule, or the number of local households that will be served; those details were not specified at the meeting.

After the vote the council quickly moved to adjourn. Councilmember Myers moved to adjourn, Councilmember Holcomb seconded, and the meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m.

Rod Sonnichsen, Mayor, and Stephanie M. Wright, City Clerk, signed the meeting attestation in the minutes.