Commissioners Disappointed Over Broadband Expansion Policy Changes

By Gordon HopkinsBroadband internet access has become an economic necessity and providing that access to those rural areas that might go unserved or underserved has been a priority of Jefferson County Commissioners for several years. A major policy shift at the federal level has put commissioners’ goal of providing broadband service to all of Jefferson County at risk. Oliver Borchers-Williams, Director of Broadband Development for SENDD (Southeast Nebraska Development District), gave commissioners the news at a meeting Tuesday morning, July 8. The new policy no longer focuses on fiber as the preferred delivery system for broadband internet service. Fiber versus WirelessCommissioner Mark Schoenrock summed up the policy change, “They’re basically saying that wireless is equivalent to fiber and it’s not.”The BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment) program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C. and various American territories.Borchers-Williams said, “Previously, it was focused on extending fiber. At the beginning of June, the Department of Commerce, the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) released what they call a BEAD restructuring policy notice, and that kind of completely upended the program.” Under the previous program guidelines, only “reliable broadband technologies” were considered when determining location eligibility, which included fiber optic, cable, DSL/copper, and licensed-spectrum fixed wireless. The revised guidelines require states to consider reported unlicensed fixed wireless coverage in addition to the previous set of technologies. Jefferson County’s BEAD-eligible total reduced from 226 to 130, or about 42 percent. Statewide, the reduction exceeded 15,000, or 52 percent. According to Borchers-Williams, some of this can be attributed to new deployment, “but most of the newly-ineligible locations are now considered ‘served’ because of the Policy Notice’s goalpost-moving. There will be no challenge process for members of the public to rebut claimed coverage at their locations.” Nebraska Likely To Lose Federal FundingAfter the meeting, Borchers-Williams provided some additional explanation to FJN. The federal government has imposed a new scoring rubric, prioritizing cost over all other criteria. As a result, states may no longer prioritize fiber and must consider all technologies as interchangeable.The Nebraska Broadband Office’s (NBO) project application window closed on July 9 and will begin scoring shortly thereafter. Borchers-Williams told FJN, “We will not know how many locations will receive fiber service in Jefferson County until the process is complete, but the new structure of the program strongly indicates most funding will go to wireless or satellite projects. Along those same lines, Nebraska is likely to substantially under-award its $405 million allocation and return money to the federal government.” Reduced Local Government InputYears of deliberate planning by states and local governments, including county commissioners, have been discarded, noted Borchers-Williams. Local coordination and feedback provisions have also been scaled back substantially, meaning counties and rural residents no longer have a say in which companies receive funding for a given project area and type.NBO is still required to open a public comment period for the state’s Final Proposal. This is likely going to occur in August in advance of a September 4 deadline. While this window will be short, between seven and 14 days, Borchers-Williams calls it the best chance for members of the public to review and comment on the program. Local ReactionIn response to these policy changes, commissioners approved sending a letter to Nebraska’s federal delegates.Borchers-Williams said, “That’s really the best opportunity right now to at least put some input, put some feedback, let our federal delegation know that these changes are not the best for Jefferson County, not the best for rural Nebraska.”

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