In a state that offers both commerce centers and some of the more rural locales in the U.S., FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty spent Tuesday in Nebraska, where she met with officials hoping to strengthen statewide connectivity.
“In Nebraska, I saw how advanced communications technologies are essential not only to Americans’ ability to participate in modern life, but also to protecting communities from both malicious threats and natural disasters,” Trusty said in an FCC release.
Guided by Republican U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, Trusty began her visit at the U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha, where she received briefings on STRATCOM’s mission and the work of the Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Center, the FCC release said.
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The discussions focused on ensuring the U.S. military can operate effectively in contested electromagnetic environments and maintain a technological edge against emerging threats.
Trusty then visited Boys Town, where the nonprofit’s staff and staff from Cox Communications demonstrated how wired and wireless connectivity can support education and health research, including the Boys Town Hotline.
Trusty also participated in a rural broadband roundtable hosted by the Nebraska Telecommunications Association alongside broadband providers, broadband customers and the Nebraska Public Service Commission.
Finally, the release said that she met with public safety officials and emergency response stakeholders to discuss how fiber, wireless and satellite technologies work together to support resilient communications during emergencies and natural disasters.
