NebraskaLink, a partnership between seven local telecommunications providers, proposes to deploy a highspeed, middle mile fiber-optic network across nearly the entire state of Nebraska. The proposed Connecting Nebraska Communities’ nearly 2,000-mile network, including 450 miles of newly constructed fiber in western Nebraska, will serve community anchor institutions as well as at least 23 last-mile broadband providers that have expressed an interest in using the network to provide local consumer service, improving access to public safety entities, schools and community colleges, healthcare facilities, and libraries.