LINCOLN – With the holiday season here, the State Capitol remains busy as District 17 state senator Joni Albrecht provides her weekly update.
According to a release from the office of the senator, Albrecht invites everyone to Lincoln to visit the State Capitol and enjoy the beauty of the newly lit tree in the Rotunda on the second floor. Visitors can also attend one of the several holiday happenings while learning about the art and rich background of this National Historic Landmark that houses the nation’s only Unicameral. The Capitol is open every day except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and free tours are given on every hour except noon.
The Transportation and Telecommunication Committee met last week for three different interim hearings.
The Nebraska Department of Transportation first provided their report, specifically on assessment and improvement strategies to address the needs of state highways and bridges. The priority strategies presented to the Committee were asset preservation, system modernization and capital improvements. Visit www.dot.nebraska.gov to stay up to date on the information about the statewide transportation improvement plan, future and ongoing projects as well as interactive maps.
The Committee was then briefed by the Public Service Commission on the State’s 911 Service System as the state transitions to Next Generation 911. Next Generation 911 will transition the 911 system from the current telephone system to an internet Protocol system that will allow digital information to flow seamlessly from the public to emergency responders through a 911 network. The group is continuing the work to facilitate the transition in the best ways possible for all of Nebraska.
Testimony was also given from the Rural Broadband Task Force on their report. Access to broadband in rural communities has been a top priority for Senator Albrecht and so many constituents in Legislative District 17, as well as for other rural communities throughout the state. A point of great interest was testimony about the “homework gap” that exists because children in some rural areas do not have access to the internet to do homework, research, etc. The Task Force provided information about efforts to connect more libraries and schools in places throughout rural Nebraska that are without the ability to get higher speed Internet or which do not have Internet in their homes at all.
To contact Senator Joni Albrecht, call 402-471-2716 or email jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov.