Lt. Gov. Sheehy Announces Latest Expansion of Network Nebraska

Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy, chair of the Nebraska Information Technology Commission (NITC), announced the third extension of Network Nebraska. With the latest expansion, the state's telecommunications backbone now reaches from border to border to form a truly statewide backbone to support Internet-based telecommunications.

The Lt. Governor was joined for the announcement by Dr. Eileen Ely, President of Western Nebraska Community College, as well as representatives from private partners Windstream Communications and Allo Communications.

"This is a critical milestone for our statewide telecommunications," Lt. Gov. Sheehy said. "Perhaps the greatest benefit of this third phase of the project is the added connectivity it will provide to users in the Nebraska Panhandle.
"As a result of the commitment to this project from our partners in both the public and private sector, Network Nebraska is increasing opportunities for enhanced learning, improving access to health care and providing for more efficient delivery of government services. This extension will provide more western Nebraska schools with the technological capability needed to access educational content that enriches the learning process."

Dr. Ely said, "With this new connection, Western Nebraska Community College will certainly benefit from increased Internet access by providing educational benefits to our large service area and expediting the delivery of 21st Century technology to our campus. It will greatly enhance our online coursework efforts and allow us to expand internet-based services previously hampered by a lack of bandwidth. We are pleased to part of this effort and look forward to the many benefits this connection will provide for students and faculty."

This new expansion will result in an approximate 30 percent savings on current infrastructure costs with potential for greater savings as additional customers are added; making new technology available to customers of the statewide backbone; putting in place the technical infrastructure needed to support a statewide system for distance learning for students of all ages; and allowing the state to form partnerships with private businesses to help bring new technology to Nebraska communities.

Phase I of Network Nebraska was launched in 2003 as a way to consolidate the telecommunications networks used by state agencies and the University of Nebraska, using technology called Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS). Nebraska was among the first to use MPLS technology in a statewide network. Phase I connected Lincoln, Omaha, Kearney, and Grand Island. Phase II extended the backbone to Norfolk and North Platte, and was operational in early 2004. Windstream Communications will be expanding the MPLS high speed data network already in use with Phase I communities to western Nebraska to complete Phase III of the project.

Brad Hedrick, Vice President & General Manager for Windstream Communications in Nebraska, said, "Windstream is pleased to partner with the state and the University to provide the backbone network service for Phase III of Network Nebraska, and we are excited about the opportunity to work with Allo Communications to deliver high speed Ethernet connectivity to Scottsbluff sites for access to Network Nebraska."

Brad Moline, President of Allo Communications, said, "We are proud the state has selected Allo's local fiber network in Scottsbluff and Gering for this third phase of the backbone connection project. The bandwidth delivered by Allo's fiber, combined with Windstream's long haul network, will help the state to become a leader in technology projects here in western Nebraska."

Developing the statewide telecommunications network backbone has been a collaborative effort of the Office of the Chief Information Officer which oversees the state's network and communications efforts, the University of Nebraska, the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET) Commission, Public Service Commission, the Nebraska Department of Education, and the NITC. Staff from NET have assisted with technical planning of the state telecommunications backbone and will continue to be involved in various aspects of network operations.