- Nebraska Broadband Lead Departs
- Oregon Awards Connectivity Program Funds
- Broadband Legislation Pending
- Small Texas Town Adds Public Wi-Fi
- Massachusetts AI Literacy Guidance
NEBRASKA BROADBAND DIRECTOR DEPARTS
Nebraska Broadband Office (NBO) Director Patrick Haggerty will be leaving; his final day will be May 1.
He was tapped to serve as the state’s first broadband director in June 2023. After his final day, Department of Transportation Director Vicki Kramer will serve as NBO’s interim director. NBO is housed within DOT.
The office was created in 2023 to support broadband deployment in the state, not unlike other states with similar offices.
During his time as director, Haggerty has played a leadership role in advancing the state’s work to access Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program funds.
“It has been a privilege to serve the citizens of Nebraska and in particular, being part of the process to ensure that we completed all necessary steps and met all deadlines to be considered for critical federal funding to expand broadband into rural areas of our state,” Haggerty said in a statement.
Recent BEAD Program changes have made this process more complicated, adding new deadlines with the Benefit of the Bargain round. A Dec. 11 executive order threatened to withhold states’ congressionally approved BEAD non-deployment funds if they enact AI laws the federal government deems “onerous.” Nebraska policymakers have advocated that states be allowed to retain these funds in compliance with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
OREGON AWARDS CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM FUNDS
The Oregon Broadband Office announced awardees April 10 for the Digital Connectivity Technology Program. Through the program, $6.8 million in grant funds will be made available to purchase Internet-enabled devices and public Wi-Fi equipment.
Recipients include the Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion and Polk counties, the city of Pendleton Library, Lane Community College, and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.
The program is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act Capital Projects Fund (CPF) and is just one investment through this federal funding source. Projects funded through the CPF must be completed by Dec. 31.
BROADBAND LEGISLATION PENDING
A coalition of organizations has submitted a letter to U.S. House of Representatives leaders calling on them to bring H.R. 2289, also known as the American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025, to the floor.
The coalition includes the Wireless Infrastructure Association, the Rural Wireless Association, the Fiber Broadband Association, and INCOMPAS, the Competitive Communications and AI Infrastructure Association.
The letter underlines the importance of broadband as AI changes daily life in the U.S., arguing that both the BEAD program and the federal government's goal of leadership in AI “will fall short” without addressing permitting barriers. This legislation, the letter argues, would help remove those barriers by establishing a nationwide permitting framework.
In separate but related news, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie this week introduced H.R. 8255, the Satellite And Telecommunications Streamlining Act, which is intended to reduce regulatory barriers for satellite technology.
SMALL TEXAS TOWN ADDS PUBLIC WI-FI
In local news, the city of Elsa, Texas — with a population under 6,000 as of 2023 — is partnering with VTX1 to bring free Wi-Fi to city parks, according to an announcement on Facebook from the Elsa Economic Development Corp. The ribbon cutting was Tuesday.
Making free Wi-Fi available for residents is not a trend unique to towns of a specific size or location. San Francisco delivered free Wi-Fi to Chinatown in March, and Moreno Valley, Calif., announced in February that it will add sites with free Internet service as part of its Wi-Fi Gardens program.
MASSACHUSETTS AI LITERACY GUIDANCE
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has announced new statewide guidance to promote digital literacy among students, educators, families and community members.
AI is playing an increasingly significant role in digital literacy, and thus, in digital skills training programming. A survey found that 4 in 5 people want protection against AI deepfakes, and schools are facing pressure to address the issue.
The Massachusetts guidance addresses AI deepfake photos and videos and provides clarity on how current laws apply to this type of content, as an AI-generated nude image of a minor is a criminal offense. The guidance includes resources on cyberbullying, legal consequences, digital literacy and responsible technology use, and on investigation and reporting requirements.
