NESC has been developing, implementing, administering, and maintaining rural regional public broadband infrastructure since 2000. In 2010, NESC built a middle mile optical fiber network. NESC’s latest project, federally funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, in partnership with NESC, will expand the existing network by 11% and will provide access to other statewide fiber networks and wholesale bandwidth. Bid openings have been completed and contracts will be awarded once EDA provides its final approval. Construction will begin this spring and will be complete in summer 2025.