JEFFERSON COUNTY, Neb. -- Areas of northeastern Jefferson County will soon benefit from round three of the Nebraska Broadband Bridge Program, a program that was announced Jan. 9, 2024.

Diode Communications, based in Diller, Nebraska, will be receiving partial grant funding to assist placement of 50 miles of buried fiber optic facilities to 98 rural homes.

“We are excited to partner with Diode Communications to help bring fiber broadband to areas of unserved Jefferson County,” said Mark Schoenrock, Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Chairman.

This new fiber will provide high speed broadband capable of gigabit speeds. A public-private partnership is being established between Diode Communications and Jefferson County using the American Rescue Plan Act that helps to fund broadband expansion.

“We are pleased to have been approved for the Nebraska Broadband Bridge Program grants to help us continue fiber broadband expansion to our neighbors in Jefferson County,” said Randy Sandman, President of Diode Communications.

The fiber improvements will cover 98 unserved homes in the county.