Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, in collaboration with the Nevada Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT), has announced the establishment of a 2,500-mile open-access, fiber optic network. Named the Nevada Middle Mile Network, this initiative aims to provide connectivity to K-12 schools, libraries, state and local government facilities, and community anchor institutions that are currently unserved.
"This significant investment will enhance internet connectivity in communities across Nevada that have struggled with inadequate internet access. By addressing these critical gaps, we are ensuring that all Nevadans have the opportunity to benefit from reliable and fast internet service," said Lombardo in a press release announcing the initiative.
According to the same press release, the Nevada Middle Mile Network is also expected to expand network capacity between urban and rural areas throughout the state. This expansion will improve last-mile networks' capacity, thereby providing more affordable high-speed Internet access to over 40,000 unserved or underserved locations.
The press release further reveals that this $250 million project forms part of the larger High Speed Nevada Initiative—a $900 million endeavor aimed at expanding the state's broadband infrastructure while enhancing digital equity and adoption. The funding for this segment of the project—the Nevada Middle Mile Network—will be sourced from the Middle Mile Broadband Deployment Act along with other federal programs.
U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) commented on this development in a separate press release: "Access to high-speed internet is a modern-day necessity, but far too many Nevadans, particularly families living in rural communities, still lack access to affordable and reliable internet service. It’s why I created the federal program to fund Middle Mile investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and fought to secure Nevada’s fair share of the money. I’m so proud to see this federal funding I secured being deployed to help expand access to high-speed internet throughout Nevada."