Nebraska’s First BEAD-Funded Household Connection Celebrated

NTIA and the Nebraska Governor’s Office says the first Nebraska household has been connected to broadband through the BEAD program. It’s one of the first BEAD-funded connections in the country, according to officials.

“Congratulations to Nebraska on this impressive accomplishment and for demonstrating what an efficient, technology-neutral BEAD program can achieve,” said NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth. She also credited Vistabeam, Governor Jim Pillen, the Nebraska Broadband Office, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R), and Nebraska’s congressional delegation for the milestone.

Roth and Pillen made the announcement from Ogallala, NE, a region previously identified as underserved. There, they visited the home connected through BEAD funding and saw the fixed wireless tower providing broadband service last Thursday. “This is what success looks like,” said Matt Larsen, owner of regional ISP Vistabeam, which serves Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming. “BEAD was created to connect unserved and underserved people, and today we’re showing that with the right tools and a capable team, connection can happen in a matter of days.”

Vistabeam is a member of WISPA – Broadband Without Boundaries. “Vistabeam’s achievement is a blueprint for broadband deployment everywhere,” said WISPA President/CEO David Zumwalt. “It proves that when federal resources meet local presence, expertise, and innovative connectivity solutions, we can close the digital divide faster.”  

By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief