Gov. Pillen appoints state's first broadband director

NEBRASKA -- On Tuesday, Gov. Jim Pillen announced the appointment of the state's first broadband director.

Pillen appointed Patrick Haggerty to the position.

Haggerty will lead the Nebraska Broadband Office established by Executive Order No 23-02 and LB 683 which will coordinate broadband deployment across the state.

Pillen established the Office of the Director of Broadband as part of his executive Cabinet as a reflection to the significance of the position. 

“Patrick’s many years of executive level experience in the telecommunications and government relations fields uniquely positions him to lead our efforts to bring reliable and affordable high-speed internet to all Nebraskans,” Pillen said. “The Broadband Office will connect Nebraska, coordinating efforts across state and federal programs to ensure there is an innovative vision and execution capable of bringing broadband services to our rural communities.”

“We are at a pivotal time, where a strategic and coordinated approach to broadband deployment is vital,” Haggerty said. “As someone who grew up in Nebraska and built a career serving rural America, I am thankful for the opportunity to return to Nebraska with a focus of bringing high-speed internet to all Nebraskans.”

Haggerty brings almost three decades of experience to this role, having served in a variety of positions with Qwest Communications, CenturyLink and Charter Communications.

He most recently served as the regional senior director for State Government Affairs over Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota. Haggerty will start his new duties July 17.

The Nebraska Broadband Office will oversee the roughly $405 million awarded to Nebraska through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program.

The office, supported by the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT), is currently collecting public input for the five-year action plan that will inform Nebraska’s proposal for the execution of BEAD funds.

Haggerty will join Governor Pillen and fellow directors K.C. Belitz from the Department of Economic Development (DED), and Vicki Kramer of NDOT, for a fly around on July 6 to outline his administration’s approach for connecting Nebraska.