Public Information and Communication
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 28, 2023
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Andrew Sherman
402-471-4559
800-307-2665
Nebraska Library Commission
Challenges the FCC’s Broadband Map On Behalf of Nebraska’s Public Libraries
The Nebraska Library Commission (NLC) has generated 230 challenges to the
Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC)
National Broadband Map on
the behalf of Nebraska’s public libraries.
These challenges are requests to the FCC to update their map ensuring that
all of Nebraska’s public libraries are designated as Community Anchor
Institutions (CAI) with the correct address and geographic location.
Why
is this important? The map will be used to achieve Goal #4 in the
National
Broadband Plan which is “every American community should have affordable
access to at least 1 gigabit per second broadband service to anchor
institutions such as schools, hospitals and government buildings.” Per the
FCC, “An accurate map will help identify the unserved and underserved
communities most in need of funding for high-speed internet infrastructure
investments.” This map will be used to allocate $42 billion in
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funds to states and
territories to help expand access to affordable high-speed internet.
In partnership with Nebraska’s State Broadband Office and Public Service
Commission, the NLC will be working to ensure that the FCC has accurate data
to assist them in the granting of funds so that all Nebraska public
libraries can provide high-speed fiber broadband service to the communities
they serve.
As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an
advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The
mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and
coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people
and information.”
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission
are always available on the Library Commission Website,
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.