Broadband in Nebraska: Current Landscape and Recommendations

N ebraska’s broadband vision is that residents, businesses, government entities, commu-nity partners, and visitors have access to affordable broadband service and have the necessary skills to effectively utilize broadband technologies. Objectives To increase economic development opportunities, create good-paying jobs, at-tract and retain population, overcome the barriers of distance, and enhance qual-ity of life in Nebraska by stimulating the continuing deployment of broadband technologies which meet the need for increasing connection speeds. To increase digital literacy and the widespread adoption of broadband technolo-gies in business, agriculture, health care, education, government and by individu-al Nebraskans. Goals The following goals and targets help focus attention on key aspects of the plan and provide a way to assess the state’s progress in addressing broadband development: Increase household adoption of broadband Over 90% of households statewide will subscribe to broadband by 2020. 85% of households in rural Nebraska will subscribe to broadband by 2020. Increase broadband availability Broadband service of 25 Mbps down will be available to 90% of house-holds by 2020. Broadband service of 1 gbps down will be available to 25% of households by 2020. Support broadband-related development by increasing the number and diver-sity of IT workers At least 1,400 degrees in computer and information science, management information systems, computer engineering, and bioinformatics will be awarded annually by Nebraska colleges and universities by 2020. Women receive at least 25% of the degrees in computer and information science, management information systems, computer engineering, and bioinformatics will be awarded by Nebraska colleges and universities by 2020

Broadband in Nebraska: Current Landscape and Recommendations

N ebraska’s broadband vision is that residents, businesses, government entities, commu-nity partners, and visitors have access to affordable broadband service and have the necessary skills to effectively utilize broadband technologies. Objectives To increase economic development opportunities, create good-paying jobs, at-tract and retain population, overcome the barriers of distance, and enhance qual-ity of life in Nebraska by stimulating the continuing deployment of broadband technologies which meet the need for increasing connection speeds. To increase digital literacy and the widespread adoption of broadband technolo-gies in business, agriculture, health care, education, government and by individu-al Nebraskans. Goals The following goals and targets help focus attention on key aspects of the plan and provide a way to assess the state’s progress in addressing broadband development: Increase household adoption of broadband Over 90% of households statewide will subscribe to broadband by 2020. 85% of households in rural Nebraska will subscribe to broadband by 2020. Increase broadband availability Broadband service of 25 Mbps down will be available to 90% of house-holds by 2020. Broadband service of 1 gbps down will be available to 25% of households by 2020. Support broadband-related development by increasing the number and diver-sity of IT workers At least 1,400 degrees in computer and information science, management information systems, computer engineering, and bioinformatics will be awarded annually by Nebraska colleges and universities by 2020. Women receive at least 25% of the degrees in computer and information science, management information systems, computer engineering, and bioinformatics will be awarded by Nebraska colleges and universities by 2020