The past several months have been very busy and productive at the Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC).  As we continue our work into the winter months, I wanted to share a quarterly update on our efforts over the past three months since the Fall 2024 District 4 Update.

 

I am Eric Kamler, your Commissioner for the 4th District of the Nebraska Public Service Commission, which covers 31 counties of Nebraska.

The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) is a five-member elected statewide board that oversees several industries affecting our everyday lives, including broadband internet and telecommunications, the 911 network contract, oil and natural gas pipeline routes and regulation, railroad lines, commercial grain storage licensing, commercial ground transportation licensing and regulation, and

modular/manufactured housing safety regulation.

 

Telecommunications and broadband issues were again the major focus this past quarter.  Commissioners hosted a hearing and launched the second round of the annual $1 million Precision Ag Infrastructure Grant Program for 2025.  Hearings continued on the Nebraska Universal Service Fund (NUSF) to implement an updated formula for high cost distribution to providers for continued rural broadband buildout with initial provider funding allocation estimates released.  The PSC approved revised internet company speed testing requirements and Commissioners also voted to approve revised internet provider service outage reporting requirements.  The 2025 NUSF 92 Rural Cell Phone Tower expansion grant cycle was launched along with the grant application window for the Nebraska 211 Information Network.  The PSC also approved reverse auction grant awards in the amount of $17.2 million in NUSF rural broadband expansion dollars which were awarded to competing internet providers through a bidding process to build out unserved areas of rural Nebraska.  In addition to Commission action, I also had the chance to visit several telecommunications and internet provider offices throughout the district from Diller to Stanton to Aurora and several other locations in between to get an update on their projects in connecting Nebraskans to high-speed internet.  

 

On the 911 Department front, Commissioners approved a $1 million Remediation & Reinvestment Network Improvement Plan with Windstream following several months of investigation into their recent 911 network outages.  The PSC also held another hearing on the Lumen 911 outages which led to a contract with 911 Authority LLC, a third party network engineering firm to verify and validate the operation of Lumen’s Next Generation 911 System.  Commissioners also approved the Statewide Wireless 911 Surcharge Rate for 2025 at 70 cents per month per phone line to help fund and implement NextGen 911 technology across the state.  Lastly, the PSC approved statewide uniform standards that will allow 911 Call Centers on the 911 Service System to better communicate, coordinate, and engage with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 

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In the PSC Transportation Department, we held hearings for several transportation company applicants, approved several transportation company applicants as certified carriers, approved a few household goods moving transportation company applicants, issued several citations for out of compliance transportation companies, and also approved new rules and regulations for drivers of railroad worker transportation companies.  There was one transportation issue, however, all Commissioners were not in agreement on.  Three of the five Commissioners voted to force an Omaha transportation company into regulation despite that company following the rules prescribed to them for the past several years by the PSC.  I voted against this regulation and was in the minority.  Despite being in the minority opinion on this, however, I stand firm on my dissent and position being against government overreach and big government interfering in people’s daily lives and businesses.

 

In the Natural Gas Department, the PSC approved a contract with Bates-White LLC to provide natural gas audit consulting services.  We conducted a review of Black Hills Energy and NorthWestern natural gas supplies in Nebraska during our Quarterly Gas Supply Status Meetings.  And lastly, Commissioners toured several Black Hills Energy natural gas residential pipeline worksites and commercial facilities in Lincoln to better understand our natural gas infrastructure.   

 

In the PSC Grain Department, the Commissioners approved several grain warehouse and grain dealer license applicants and hosted a hearing to approve several new grain warehouse and grain dealer rules and regulations to better protect the farmer selling grain to elevators.

 

The PSC Housing Department had an active quarter as well with a hearing and approval of the Manufactured & Modular Home Safety Seal fee and RV Safety Seal fee.  I also had a great opportunity to tour Champion Homes of York with several PSC staff to better understand our

work in ensuring modular homes built in Nebraska get to the consumer with the highest safety standards.   

 

It has been a busy past three months at the PSC and I pledge to continue working hard for the people of the 4th District and will keep sharing these quarterly updates to all local newspapers, media outlets, and on my social media pages.

 

I also want to extend my appreciation and gratitude for the hardworking and dedicated team at the PSC for their help in the implementation of the work of the Commissioners that is highlighted each quarter.

 

If you have any questions or issues related to the PSC or PSC regulated industries, please reach out to our office at 402-471-3101 or by email at eric.kamler@nebraska.gov.

 

Thank you for the opportunity to serve and to continue to work towards making Nebraska an even better place to call home.

Eric M. Kamler

Commissioner-Public Service Commission District 4