Developers of high-speed communications systems say consistency in federal and state support is needed to provide better services across Nebraska.
Mike Becker is CEO of Hartelco, based in Hartington.
He told members of a legislative committee that Hartington, in northeast Nebraska, is a 100-percent fiber-optic cable community, serving 148 square miles.

Becker says dollars from the universal service fund are crucial to laying fiber throughout rural areas.

Becker says federal and state universal service fund support has been declining in recent years.
He testified before the state legislature’s Transportation and Telecommunications Committee.