Nebraska Schools Partner With Diamond Communications on ConnectNE

The Nebraska Association of School Boards reports it has launched ConnectNE, a new initiative with Diamond Communications to improve cellular connectivity for school districts across the state. The program will help districts identify coverage gaps and market school-owned land for new wireless infrastructure, potentially generating revenue while improving service. Officials say about half of Nebraska districts currently experience unreliable coverage from at least one major carrier.

“We are excited to work alongside NASB to help Nebraska’s school districts improve cellular service,” said Peter Woodbury, President of Strategic Partnerships at Diamond Communications. “Placing infrastructure on school properties allows for stronger, more dependable connectivity for students, educators, emergency responders and surrounding communities. This partnership gives districts a more efficient path to strengthen wireless coverage around their facilities. Together, Diamond and NASB will unlock new benefits for schools and provide carriers with a more dependable and predictable path to improved connectivity.”

Through the ConnectNE program, Diamond is charged with helping to identify carrier coverage gaps, market school properties, and develop sites for wireless infrastructure on district-owned land, all at no cost to the school districts. 

Leaders say stronger connectivity will enhance daily operations, emergency response, and communication between schools, families, and first responders, while expanding coverage to surrounding communities at no cost to districts.

“We are very excited to launch our new program, ConnectNE. Reliable cellular service is critical, especially during emergencies, and through this initiative, districts can proactively market properties to the wireless carriers for the development of new communication towers. School Districts now have the opportunity to strengthen communication, support student learning, enhance safety in our schools and create opportunities to generate revenue from leasing district land for new communication towers or other infrastructure,” said NASB COO Sallie Horky.