A Rural Broadband bill has advanced to final reading in the Nebraska Unicameral. The measure brought forward by Senator Bruce Bostelman is supported by the Nebraska Corn Grower’s Association. Executive Director Kelly Brunkhorst says the measure calls for increased availability and funding that is needed in Nebraska.

He says the bill requires that any political subdivision that receives federal funding for broadband service enhancement will be required to provide service scalable to 100 mega bites per second or greater for both upload and download speed.

Brunkhorst says a plan approved under the provisions of the legislation by the Public Service Commission includes a deployment timeline to include periodic milestones and reporting requirements from the telecommunications company providing the broadband service.

There was no opposition in the vote that sent the measure to final reading for future legislative consideration.