The Flatwater Free Press printed an article on November 16, 2025, stating that Nebraska may return $350 million in federal funding meant to boost Nebraskans’ broadband. Although this headline is technically correct, there is much more to the story than the headline suggests.

During the Biden administration, when the federal government was shoveling money out of Washington, a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill was passed into law in 2021. The law included the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The State of Nebraska was allocated $405 million to get broadband access of at least 100/20 Mbps to unserved and underserved locations in the state – largely in low-populated, rural areas – with a preference for fiber to the home expansion. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer characterized the funding as a once-in-a-generation investment to bring Nebraskans the connectivity they deserve.

Letters of intent (LOI) regarding a state’s desire to participate in BEAD were due to the federal Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in July 2022, and Nebraska’s LOI was timely filed by then-Governor Ricketts and the Nebraska Public Service Commission. It took several months for the NTIA to release Initial Planning Funds so that states could begin developing their Five Year Plan in conformance with the BEAD program rules at the time. Meanwhile, Nebraskans were voting to elect Jim Pillen as our 41st Governor.

In anticipation of the BEAD funding, and given the importance of the rollout, Governor Pillen announced the creation of the Nebraska Broadband Office (NBO) on his second day in office in January 2023. This office would report directly to him to ensure BEAD would get the priority it needed. The Legislature formally approved a bill to transition BEAD oversight to the NBO, which was approved in May 2023. Patrick Haggerty was hired the following month to oversee the program as its director. Patrick has a strong background in broadband and was the perfect person to serve in that position.

The final state allocations were announced in June 2023, with Nebraska eligible to receive $405 million. States were then asked to develop Initial Proposals, in two volumes, in late 2023 as part of a collaborative process with the NTIA, which included opportunities for public comment.

It was not until 2024 that the state challenge process regarding mapped locations was undertaken. Only once finalized locations were released mid-year could broadband carriers submit their own LOIs to participate in a state’s program. LOIs were submitted in the midst of the 2024 Presidential election, in which Donald Trump unseated Joe Biden.

BEAD grant rounds began in early 2025, but on June 6, 2025, the NTIA announced it was voiding all previously approved Final Proposals and restructuring key elements of the BEAD program. Although several changes were made, the most important for a state like Nebraska was the change from a fiber-preferred program to a technology-neutral program. States were given only 30 days to submit revised Initial Proposals and complete a new selection process within 90 days. This selection process required all applicants to compete on an equal basis, regardless of technology type or prior participation, with the primary scoring criterion being which proposal was the lowest total BEAD program cost per location.

Naturally, more sparsely populated areas can be served by satellite or wireless technology at a lower price tag. Without the ability to prioritize fiber expansion, the new rule drove the dollars required to meet the goal down significantly. The question then became whether Nebraska would be allowed to use the funding for other purposes. So far, that answer has been “NO.” Thus, Nebraska will be required to return any unused funds. There were no missteps by the Broadband Office; it was simply a change in the rules that cost us the funding.

We are all disappointed that the federal change will stymie fiber expansion in Nebraska. Although the unserved and underserved locations in Nebraska will still get access to high-speed Internet at speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps, fixed wireless and satellite service are not equal in performance to fiber. There is a role for all technologies – and undoubtedly fixed wireless and satellite would have played some role in the prior BEAD rollout – but the amount shifted significantly with the new program requirements. There are clear cost differences and limitations for each technology, and we have to play by the federal rules for these funds.

State Senator Jana Hughes invited several other rural senators and me to join Director Haggerty in her office a couple of months ago to hear directly from him the status of the funding and program administration. He was very open and honest about the challenges presented by the rule changes. He earned my respect that day, and I am confident his office did its best to maximize Nebraska’s use of the funds.

It is a privilege to represent you in the Nebraska Legislature, and I look forward to continuing to hear about issues that are important to you. I can be reached at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov.

Last Friday, the City of Lexington received the devastating news that Tyson Foods, the largest employer in the area, will close its plant on January 20, 2026. When a town of just over 10,000 loses over 3,200 jobs, it is a big deal.

This, of course, is not the first time Lexington has experienced an impact like this. When the New Holland combine plant decided to close its doors at the same location, it took a lot of hard work, but the local leaders – with the help of state incentives – successfully recruited IBP to buy and convert the plant to a beef packing plant. Along with the new plant came odor problems and the need to hire workers who were willing to work hard in difficult conditions. This was a difficult challenge for a community the size of Lexington (at the time) to deal with. Not only was housing a challenge, but the school system was ill-equipped to deal with language and cultural barriers presented by new families moving to the community. Many long-time residents moved out of town, and there was resistance from some to the new employer.

Lexington showed a lot of resilience after the New Holland closure. I have always been impressed by the commitment of local leaders to face the new challenge head-on and convert problems into opportunities. Today, the Lexington Public School system is one of the best in the state. The growth of the town has been phenomenal. Lexington was firing on all cylinders until the Tyson announcement.

As hard as it is to absorb the news, I am confident that Lexington will find a way to rebound. Once again, local leaders will need to repeat the prior success of finding a replacement employer (or employers). Unfortunately, they will face the additional hurdle presented by the state of the Tyson plant. The New Holland plant was a clear-span building with many possibilities. Today, the plan is much larger and does not lend itself as easily to a cost-effective conversion. It does, however, have refrigeration capacity that could aid an employer needing this type of space. One challenge will be finding someone who does not directly compete with Tyson. They may prefer to idle the plan, as opposed to helping a competitor. However, paying for taxes, insurance, and security on an idle plant can be very expensive. I hope they will do right by the community.

The closure of this plant will be felt throughout Nebraska’s agricultural community, particularly for cattle producers who will now need to find a new processor. The cost of additional trucking and the associated shrink from longer travel times will have a negative financial impact. Although cattle prices are good right now, our producers need more capital to help increase the domestic cattle supply in future years.

Meanwhile, you cannot help but have sympathy for the families that will be affected by the plant closure, particularly in the midst of the holiday season. They have made Lexington their home. There are also many businesses that have opened their doors to support the plant and its workers. Although Sustainable Beef is still hiring in North Platte, there are fewer openings than potential employees, and the possibility of uprooting your family is never an easy situation to face.

Sidney, NE dealt with similar news when Cabela’s closed its corporate offices. These were high-paying jobs, with many employees who had built or were building expensive homes. The challenge for every town that loses a large employer is to find one or more replacement businesses that can absorb the space and employees at comparable salary ranges.

Julie and I will be keeping the City of Lexington and the Tyson plant employees in our prayers.

It is a privilege to represent you in the Nebraska Legislature, and I look forward to continuing to hear about issues that are important to you. I can be reached at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov.

As technology continues to improve, agriculture has been a major beneficiary. Auto steer for row crop equipment, which is made possible with satellite technology, has improved the accuracy of row spacings and the ease of operating for producers. This satellite technology also controls seed placement for planters, so point rows are not double-planted. This not only saves on seed costs, but also prevents overplanting end rows.

Tractors are equipped to measure fuel usage on the go and measure wheel slippage in real time. Combines are equipped to measure yield in real-time while creating color-coded yield maps. This technology also measures grain moisture, which is adjusted to dry bushels, thereby reflecting the actual crop yield.

Center pivots are available that can not only speed up and slow down the rate of movement, but also have the ability to turn off or reduce the rate of water output for each sprinkler along the pivot to avoid over-watering wet spots. They can even be controlled remotely from your phone.

These technologies are commonplace among many operators today, but are only the beginning of the potential improvements and innovations for American agriculture.

Livestock producers can use electronic ID (EID) tags to store data for each animal in their herd. Once again, there are limitless amounts of data that can be generated.

The challenge has become how to safeguard the privacy of this data and how to identify who has the right to own or control the data. That was the subject of a legislative round table I hosted last week in Lincoln. The Governor asked me last session if I would sponsor a bill dealing with the privacy of agricultural data. With the limited time we had to draft last year’s bill, my staff worked with the Governor’s staff to develop LB525. In the end, I decided that the bill needed more work, so I held the bill in committee so we could do an interim study on the subject and get input from all interested parties between sessions. I plan to amend the bill with a “white copy” (replacement) amendment and rehear the bill in committee in January.

At the roundtable, we gathered great input from everyone present. There were opinions that ranged from those who felt the producer should control the use of all the resulting information gathered from the technology to those who believed both the producer and the developer of the software should have unlimited use of the data. Since no other state has a privacy law specific to agricultural data, I wanted to walk before we run, but I believe there is a need to start putting some guardrails in place, given the fast rate of technology growth. In doing so, it’s important to balance producer protections with the ability to innovate.

We left the roundtable with a basic framework and will be having more discussions to improve on what we started. We have much to do over the next two months.

It is a privilege to represent you in the Nebraska Legislature, and I look forward to continuing to hear about issues that are important to you. I can be reached at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov.

I want to begin my comments this week by taking a moment to honor our veterans as we celebrate Veterans Day.

Veterans Day is a time to honor all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces: the men and women who have worn the uniform to protect freedom, both at home and abroad. Memorial Day honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice, while Veterans Day reminds us to appreciate those who have returned from service and continue to give back to our communities in various ways.

Each year, towns across Nebraska, such as Stapleton, Thedford, McPherson County, Halsey, and Mullen, to name a few, gather to honor our soldiers. Julie and I look forward to participating in the Veterans Day parade in North Platte on November 11 at 4:30 p.m., beginning in the Canteen District. It is a humbling experience to stand among those who have dedicated part of their lives to protecting our nation and safeguarding the freedoms we often take for granted.

The most significant public service anyone can offer is serving in the U.S. military. The bravery, discipline, and sense of duty that veterans bring into civilian life strengthen our communities. They serve as leaders in schools, churches, businesses, and local groups, continuing their legacy of service long after retiring from active duty. It is also important to remember the sacrifice made by the families of veterans, many of whom go long stretches without seeing their service member, spend many nights worrying about their safety, move throughout the U.S. and world, and ultimately provide critical support to our military members – during and after their time of service.

As your State Senator, I am committed to making sure that Nebraska continues to honor the service of our military members and their families, not just in words but through real actions. Our state has made significant progress recently to improve access to education, housing, and healthcare for veterans and their families. However, there is always more we can do to ensure that those who protect our freedoms have every chance to succeed when they come home.

While much of my work this fall has been focused on preparing legislation for the upcoming session, Veterans Day reminds us why public service is important. I hope everyone will take a moment to reflect on how they can serve in their own way, whether running for public office, volunteering time, donating to charitable causes, helping an elderly or disabled neighbor, or any service that aligns with your skills and talents.

The freedoms we enjoy in our democratic system are thanks to generations of veterans ready to defend them. This week, let’s take a moment to thank a veteran and reflect on the huge debt we owe to those who have served.

Thank you to our veterans for your courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to the United States of America.

It is a privilege to represent you in the Nebraska Legislature, and I look forward to continuing to hear about issues that are important to you. I can be reached at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov.

Last week, I was invited to attend the celebration in Madrid related to the Mid America Agri Products/Wheatland (MAAPW) ethanol plant’s connection to the Tallgrass Trailblazer CO2 pipeline. This was the first ethanol plant to connect to the pipeline, and several more will be connected over the next several months. The late Robert (Bob) Lundeen and his wife, Sandy, were the founders of Mid America. It was always Bob’s vision to become the first customer to deliver CO2 to the pipeline for permanent sequestration in Wyoming. It was a privilege to see his vision unfold.

The Trailblazer pipeline will play a huge role in making locally produced ethanol more competitive in the low-carbon fuels market. Many end users insist on low-carbon fuels when purchasing products. Since the fermentation process used by ethanol plants produces high levels of CO2, finding a way to sequester the CO2 is key to getting the best value for the product. Using a pipeline to deliver the product to Wyoming, where many spent gas wells exist, you can safely store the CO2 below ground in a safe manner. This helps ensure that Nebraska’s ethanol plants will be competitive well into the future.

The local economic impact that MAAPW creates for the small village of Madrid and the surrounding agricultural area is significant. The plant directly employs over 40 workers and provides a competitive market into which farmers can sell their corn crop. Across the state, ethanol plants increase the price of corn by approximately 25 cents per bushel. When you combine this corn demand with the needs of area cattle feed yards, the price for corn is very strong. Additionally, the wet distillers’ grains, another byproduct of ethanol plants, are purchased by local cattle feeders to supplement cattle rations with a quality protein. source. A great example of adding value to locally produced corn, which then leaves the area as a biofuel and contributes to the local beef industry. This is how rural Nebraska fosters economic development: by generating taxable income and creating employment opportunities in rural areas.

Governor Pillen has often said that his vision for Nebraska is to export value-added products instead of sending our basic commodities out of the state. We can produce calves on our Sandhills ranches, feed them in our feed yards, use locally grown and produced feedstuffs throughout the state, and then process them in Nebraska packing plants. The Sustainable Beef facility is in North Platte because local feed yards finish cattle grown in the Sandhills. They have access to distillers’ grains and corn produced locally, which reduces shipping costs and ultimately lowers production costs. The local employment base continues to grow, which also increases the demand for housing and basic services for families. Ultimately, our tax base is increased as a result.

As happy as I was to be invited to attend the event, it seemed empty without Bob Lundeen there. He was a true visionary. But his wife, Sandy, and their family remain actively engaged in the business and fully committed to the vision Bob created.

It is a privilege to represent you in the Nebraska Legislature, and I look forward to continuing to hear about issues that are important to you. I can be reached at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov.

Weekly Article for Week of October 26, 2025

This past week was spent attending interim study public hearings and catching up with my staff.  I must say that I feel I have one of the best staffs in the Legislature.  Joshua Christolear is the legal counsel for the Banking Commerce and Insurance Committee and provides necessary help in review and drafting of committee bills.  He also coordinates communications with parties inquiring about committee issues and does research.  Tori Osborne is my LA and not only assists with constituent communications, but drafts bills I intend to introduce while doing research on all bills coming to the floor.  Her briefing books are incredible and provide me with important facts in each bill.  At one time she wrote floor speeches for me, but quickly learned that I do my own floor speeches by using her notes.  She is great!  Natalie Schunk is the committee clerk and runs the functions of the committee hearings and coordinates with Joshua and Tori to coordinate scheduling of bills to be heard in committee.  They then brief me before finalizing the schedule.  Finally, my AA is Kristina Konecko.  Kristina is involved in all aspects of the operation and is generally the one who answers your calls.  Kristina has been with me from the beginning and knows the district well.  They all work well as a team and do a great job keeping District 42 moving forward.  Their work this summer kept me on track as I went through my rehab.  They are great.

I get letters and emails from high school students asking a multitude of questions regarding serving as a state Senator.  One often asked question is why did you decide to run for the office?  The honest answer is it was not my intent to run, but ultimately, I felt compelled to run because it was a great way to protect the life, we all have built in District 42 and western Nebraska.  I soon found that I could make a difference in protecting that which was important to us and making certain that we don’t get left behind in receiving our share of state resources.

Senator Spivey introduced a legislative hearing LR240 which was designed to seek input on how we can coordinate economic development efforts that to reach all parts of Nebraska.  She represents a district in Northeast Omaha.  She and I have discussed many subjects this past year and look forward to working with the body next year to first lower our tax burden.  That is the best economic tool available. Letting people keep more of their money so they can decide how to spend it.  Given the current budget challenges, I believe any revenue increases will need to go to balance the budget.  Additionally, we must protect the Perkins County Canal funding at least until we get the Supreme court ruling.  Access to the water we have a right to is imperative to protect irrigators and water for the cooling pond at Sutherland.  We also must do all we can to help attract manufacturing and processing companies to locate at the new rail park.  With the Port of the Plains, we now can provide efficient rail service for manufactured or processed goods that need to be sent to the coast.  This combined with truck service down the interstate and air service can be an attraction to bringing companies here.  It can not only improve prices for locally grown grains and livestock products, but also provide producers with higher margins.  The increased tax base will also provide property tax relief.

It all begins with broadening our tax base and our employment base.  We already have the raw materials; we just need to add value.

Not all incentives need dollars, some may need reduced regulation and better access to water, electricity, air service, rail service, and the interstate.  We can provide most of those resources today.

It has been a pleasure serving as your State Senator, I have enjoyed the challenge and will continue to do my best to serve the interests of District 42.

I wanted to open my article this week with an update on my health status. I am happy to report that I underwent a PET scan at UNMC three weeks ago, and the results indicate that the cancer in my body is gone. Although the medication caused side effects, including balance problems that led to my fall in June, it also seems to have done its job of attacking the cancer cells. My healthcare is now focused on regaining stamina after muscle loss from the fall-related rhabdomyolysis, and I’m glad to be able to spend more time in the District amongst my constituents. I hope to be fully recovered by the year’s end and am remaining active in the meantime.

I was glad to spend a little time on the farm in the last week running a grain cart as part of the corn harvest.  Although I think Julie would prefer that this be my last year farming, it’s hard to walk away. Anyone who has farmed knows the old saying that “you can take the kid out of the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the kid.” I am a firm believer that much of Nebraska’s well-known work ethic stems from our agricultural roots. I am proud to be a part of the ag tradition and pass those values on to my own family.

Although a sad occasion, I was also grateful to be able to attend the memorial service for former state Senator and local rancher Tom Hansen over the weekend. Tom was very involved in the cattle industry and in local service organizations in North Platte. He was respected by the Senators he served with and was remembered as a fair-minded person who often reached across party lines to pass good legislation. He set a great example for others to follow, and I am glad to have counted Tom as a friend for many years. Julie and I wish Linda and the Hansen family the very best as they grieve, and thank them for sharing Tom with us.

In terms of legislative business, I spent the end of last week in Lincoln participating in interim study activities. I will do the same this week. I have also been keeping a close eye on the litigation related to the Perkins County Canal and the related compact from 1921. Many of you will have seen news coverage of Colorado’s brief filed in the lawsuit last Wednesday. I am eager to see if the U.S. Supreme Court will take up the case during the 2025-2026 session. A decision could go a long way toward advancing the Canal project and protecting the water rights of Nebraskans.

In my mind, the main benefit of the compact will be the ability to enforce water rights related to flows into the South Platte River. Although the compact does not require Colorado to guarantee Nebraska minimum flows into the Platte River, it does require them to take steps to enforce against “junior” water users. This would require the junior water users to stop removing water from the river and deep wells that impact the river flow if Colorado is not meeting the minimum flow requirements in the compact.

Nebraska is entitled to at least 120 cubic feet per second (CFS) of water in the summer months and 500 CFS of water in the winter months. The compact designates the gate at Ovid, Colorado, as the measuring point. When I toured the site a couple of years ago, it was clear that the flow was insufficient to meet the requirements, yet center pivots in eastern Colorado were still running. This is a clear violation of the compact. Also, remember that the 120 and 500 CFS of water are required minimums, not maximums. When enforcing the compact, I hope they consider what the flows would have been if junior rights had been shut off as required by the compact and the influence of inaction on historic and current flows.

As important as water is, there is no question why Colorado is pushing back. I believe the timing of the lawsuits is good, so Nebraska can get a better feel for the ultimate interpretation of the compact before more dollars are spent. But make no mistake, we would kick ourselves if we did not make every effort to enforce our rights now. Water will only become more precious as the Front Range continues to be developed and expanded. Colorado’s attitude towards Nebraska’s enforcement may ultimately open a can of worms that they didn’t bargain for.

And, although the compact does not have a time limit for Nebraska to complete the work on the canal and reservoir, development of the system will continue to increase in cost as time goes on.

I expect we will see efforts again next year from some in the Legislature to skim off funds currently held for the Perkins County Canal, whether to balance the budget or for other projects. I hope that we can get a quick resolution of the litigation matter prior to discussions about reallocating the funds, but the legal process can often be slow. I am appreciative of the Governor’s continued effort to protect the Canal dollars. Access to sufficient surface and groundwater in Nebraska is critical, not only for agricultural and industrial operations, but for the cooling ponds at Gerald Gentleman Station and to ensure sufficient drinking water for all of the communities along the Platte River – including Lincoln and Omaha.

It is a privilege to represent you in the Nebraska Legislature, and I look forward to continuing to hear about issues that are important to you. I can be reached at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov.

I will be spending more time in Lincoln this week in order to take part in public hearings. The first public hearing will be held on October 15, as the Executive Board will hear testimony on LR198. The purpose of the hearing is to consider whether the Legislature should create a new standing committee to focus on technology. It also proposes to combine the Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees into one committee. I have some reservations about this proposal and look forward to taking part in the hearing.

My primary concern begins with the proposed combination of the Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees. Each standing committee is allowed to designate two bills as Priority bills. Priority bills have a better chance of being heard on the floor because they get scheduling priority over other non-prioritized bills. Although these committees don’t usually receive a significant number of bills, they have jurisdiction over two significant portions of Nebraska’s economy and areas that have a particular impact on rural Nebraska. I worry about losing two priority bills awarded to the committees today. The Legislature has attempted to combine these two committees in the past, but has never done so. We will see if it happens this time.

I’m also unsure if we need a separate committee to handle technology-related bills. As I look at past bills introduced in the Legislature, they generally are not bills that deal with technology alone. And I’m not sure there is enough technology legislation to justify a separate committee. It may be more prudent to clarify where these bills should be referred within our existing committee structure.

In the past, the Referencing Committee (the committee assigning bills to committees of jurisdiction) has defaulted to the Judiciary Committee any bill that included a legal penalty. This has resulted in the Judiciary Committee receiving many bills where the subject matter could be assigned to a different committee that deals with the primary subject matter, but for the fact that the bill included a legal penalty.

I look forward to the testimony. I remain open to the concept, but do wonder if the proposal in LR198 is the right solution.

On Friday, I will lead a roundtable dealing with the high cost of property insurance premiums as outlined by LR199 and LR200. I introduced both resolutions to look at ways to reduce the cost of our current high casualty insurance costs. As I have said in the past, homeowners are fighting a two-front battle of high property taxes and equally high casualty insurance costs. When combined with relatively high mortgage rates, the cost to own a home is putting home ownership out of reach for many. A strong economy relies on making home ownership accessible for workers to raise their families and retire in. I look forward to hearing from insurance stakeholders about the challenges facing the industry and ways the Legislature may be able to help make property insurance more affordable for Nebraskans.

There are also two other committees holding hearings this week. Thursday morning, the Urban Affairs Committee will hold hearings at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, looking at a wide variety of issues, including municipal land banks, poverty elimination, nutritious food access, and housing access for the formerly incarcerated. In the afternoon, the Health and Human Services Committee will hold hearings in Lincoln regarding health-related social needs, strengthening our medical workforce, the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and more. I look forward to discussing the results of these interim studies with my colleagues and seeing what legislation might be proposed as a result.

The interim is an important time for Senators, as we brainstorm our bills and priorities for the coming session. It is also an opportunity to deep-dive into issues with stakeholders and learn more about complex issues in our various committees.

It is also a great time for constituents to reach out about issues important to them; please continue to contact me at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov. It is a pleasure serving as your State Senator and serving the interests of District 42.

One of the greatest pleasures of being a state senator is having the privilege to go to work each session day on the floor of one of the most iconic buildings in the country. Although I had been to the Capitol prior to becoming a Senator, I never really appreciated the intricate details of the architecture and the stories it told. It is also amazing how this magnificent building was built. Construction began in 1922 and was fully completed in 1932. Given what was going on in this country near the end of construction, it must have taken great fortitude to see it through completion.

When the Legislature first approved in 1919 the construction of the new Capitol, it also created the Capitol Commission to oversee not only construction but ultimately maintenance of the building and grounds. One of the biggest priorities of the Commission has been to protect the original design and furnishings of the original building. It is for this reason that the walls have the original paint colors and why no pictures or other items can be hung from the walls, but rather must be suspended from the ceiling. The lighting in the Capitol also remains original. This is one of the most challenging issues because the building does not have good lighting in the hallways or on the legislative floor. Late-night sessions are challenging, and anyone can see from the TV coverage that the floor looks dark. As items need to be fixed, the basement of the Capitol has a repair shop to do its own maintenance and repairs.

I will always remember sitting next to Speaker Mike Hilgers right after I was appointed to the Legislature. One day, we were in the middle of a filibuster when Mike looked at me and said, “On days like this, when I question why I am here, I sit back in my chair and look up at the ceiling in the Chamber and am reminded what a privilege it is to be here.”

Because of the focus on keeping the building as “Capitol original” as possible, the security for occupants in the building is minimal. Multiple cameras located throughout the building to provide the primary security. But given the current political environment, is it enough?

I met with several Senators last week to discuss this issue and determine if now is the time to limit entry points to the public and install metal detectors at public entrances. This may seem like a radical approach, but when you consider that the Capitol houses not only the Legislature, but also the Nebraska Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, the Governor, and other state officers, you can appreciate that there is some vulnerability in the current system. There are also countless fourth-grade students who tour the Capitol annually.

We only need to look at the behavior of many who sit in the balcony to view the Legislature in person over the past three years. The behavior has involved everything from verbal outbursts to throwing feminine hygiene products from the balcony. After the assassination of Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, John, in their home in June 2025 and the more recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, it has become clear that some think political violence is an appropriate way to express criticism or disagreement. I don’t know where it will end, but I think it’s important we think it’s worth discussing whether we should take some steps to better identify potential risks at the state capitol.

I want to clear that I do not support restricting the Second Amendment rights of citizens, but it may be beneficial to identify those bringing deadly weapons into the Capitol and what their intentions may be. In far too many cases, those committing gun crimes are not the legal owners of the gun or do not possess the proper permits. Our goal would not be to stop law-abiding citizens from carrying certain potentially deadly weapons into the Capitol, but to know they legally possess these items and know who has them. Politically motivated gun crimes are growing and need to stop. Unfortunately, Nebraska is no different. I would be interested in knowing your thoughts on this issue.

It has been a pleasure serving as your State Senator. I have enjoyed the challenge and will continue to do my best to serve the interests of District 42. Please continue to reach out to me about issues important to you at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov.

Lately, there have been a lot of rumblings about changes made to the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and what they mean for connecting all Nebraskans to high-speed Internet. I’d like to first give a little history about where we’ve been with communications access in the state and then talk about what BEAD will do for Nebraska.

Like most states, Nebraska has established a state universal service fund, in addition to the federal universal service fund (USF). The Nebraska Universal Service Fund (NUSF) was established in 1997 and is funded by a fee on your telephone bill. The NUSF is administered by the Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC).

The original purpose was to ensure all Nebraskans had access to telecommunications services by subsidizing the cost of reaching citizens living in “high-cost” areas, i.e., areas expensive to build telephone lines to. Only the incumbent carriers – ones tasked with the obligation to provide service to everyone within their exchange territory – are eligible to receive disbursements from the NUSF. At the time, copper phone lines were still the preferred technology by many telephone providers, but DSL and cable Internet were also emerging.

Since the inception of the NUSF, what it means to be connected has evolved. For a time, the goal was to connect Nebraskans to Internet speeds of 10/1 Mbps. That was eventually increased to 25/3 Mbps, and is now 100/20 Mbps or 100/100 Mbps. These thresholds have changed with the development of new technologies or the improvement of old technologies, including cable, fixed wireless, satellite, and fiber. Once focused on both capital construction and maintenance of these communications networks, the PSC is now considering a transition of the NUSF dollars to provide only ongoing support to telecommunications carriers.

The ability to move the NUSF from a capital construction fund to a maintenance fund is a significant milestone. More Nebraskans are connected today than ever before, thanks to a variety of public and private investments. Not only are telecommunications and broadband carriers making significant capital investments in expanding connectivity, but connectivity has also been a priority at the state and federal levels. In addition to supporting the NUSF, the Nebraska Legislature also funded several construction-based grants, including five cycles of the Nebraska Bridge Program, two cycles of Capital Projects Fund Grants, and the Precision Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program.

The federal government has also established several programs to improve connectivity, including the original and enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (ACAM and E-ACAM), the Connect America Fund (CAF) Phases 1 and 2, the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), and subsidizing the expenses of smaller rural carriers with USF dollars.

The BEAD Program is also a federal initiative passed under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021 (the second phase of the federal COVID subsidies) and provided almost $42.5 billion to expand high-speed (100/20 Mbps) Internet access across the U.S. The program only funds build-out to unserved or underserved locations, and the original intent was that the program be “fiber-first,” with alternative technologies like fixed wireless and satellite only being used in extremely high-cost areas. Unfortunately, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the federal agency handling BEAD implementation, was very slow to roll out the program. Just as states were receiving and evaluating project applications, the NTIA changed the rules in June 2025 through the issuance of a Policy Notice. Although the Policy Notice made several changes, the most concerning to many Nebraskans was the elimination of the fiber preference in favor of a technology-neutral approach and directed states to select project applications with the lowest cost to deploy.

Although many are disappointed that the investment in fiber-to-the-home will be much reduced under the new BEAD rules, there are still positive outcomes for Nebraskans. First, those unserved and underserved locations will still receive access to high-speed, 100/20 Mbps service, and they may receive it more quickly with alternative technologies than a fiber build-out. Second, companies expanding fixed wireless networks will still be building fiber to towers, which increases the amount of middle-mile network in our state and could reduce the cost for fiber expansion in the future. And finally, fiber is not the best solution for every need. Although unmatched in speed and reliability, fiber can only take Internet access so far. It is also essential for precision agriculture and public safety that we have strong wireless and cellular networks in our state, particularly in rural areas.

In the end, I understand the frustration with the NTIA’s changes to the BEAD Program, and I know many were excited to see an influx of fiber build-out in Nebraska. I hope our broadband providers will continue to make capital investments and use other resources out there to expand fiber access. At the same time, the BEAD Program is still a significant investment in connectivity. I am grateful that all Nebraskans will soon have some access to high-speed Internet.

Please continue to reach out to me about issues important to you at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov. It is a pleasure serving as your State Senator and working for the interests of District 42.