The Superior Express -

There is good news brewing for parts of Nuckolls County which currently have less than desirable internet service.

Glenwood Telecommunications and South Central Public Power (SCPPD) hope to join together and provide an opportunity for all people in Nuckolls County served by the power company to subscribe to fiber optic internet service maintained by Glenwood. With this partnership most Nuckolls County residents will have the option of subscribing to an internet service offering broadband speeds.

Representatives of the two companies and the South Central Economic Development District met with the Nuckolls County Board of Commissioners to describe the plan which hinges on qualifying for federal funding. The commissioners gave their blessing. Federal approval of the plan is not expected until 2022.

If all goes as planned, South Central will install the fiber optic line on its poles currently used for the distribution of electricity. The fiber will be hung below the electric lines. South Central will own and maintain the fiber but Glenwood will operate the system.

The presenters indicated it will not be a lucrative project for them as it will take about 20 years to recover the costs. However, it is expected to enhance life in many parts of Nuckolls County which are now inadequately served by an internet provider. With each passing day, it seems the availability of internet service becomes increasingly important. For example, businesses must now use the internet to file state payroll and sales tax reports. In the early days of the internet, service was delivered by the way of a dial up service over copper telephone lines, the dial-up service does not provide the speed needed for many of today’s applications.

The dial-up services utilized a piece of computer gear known as a modem. The first modem was used by the U.S. Military in 1958. It operated at a speed of 110 baud. This week’s newspaper contains pictures of 5MB or greater size that were transmitted to our office via the internet. If we were using the original Sage modem, it would have taken 116 hours, 30 minutes and 30 second to transmit one of the 5MB pictures provided the phone connection wasn’t dropped. With today’s average United States broadband speed, the transfer can be made in about 1 second.

It was noted during the meeting for many people broadband internet service is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity.

Rural areas are left out of the economic loop when they lack broadband service. Many students now learn remotely from kindergarten through postgraduate degrees. Work from home options are more plentiful. Modern farms has a heavy reliance on computers. Substandard internet is a major hindrance to rural development.

In other action, the board has taken the advice of Jeff Wagner, the county highway superintendent, and has declined to accept the lone bid submitted for a bridge replacement project located southwest of Nelson. When completed the project will replace a bridge with three steel culverts. Wagner recommended the project be bundled with another one in the spring. By spring it is hoped steel prices will have declined from the current high.

Kylie Kinley, a member of the Nuckolls County Extension Service staff introduced Megan Burda to the board. Burda is serving as this area’s engagement zone coordnator for Nebraska Extension. The state is now dividied into 11 zones.

The board joined with many other groups and Gov. Pete Ricketts in voicing its opposition to President Joe Biden’s 30x30 plan for rural development.

The county board will meet again on Monday at the county courthouse.