Nebraska leading in new infrastructure

From Scottsbluff to Omaha, and all across America, our economy is growing and rapidly changing. 21st Century connections are allowing businesses to compete and communicate in unique and exciting new ways. We are fortunate to live in an age where the small-town architect can send his designs anywhere, the forward-looking farmer can watch the commodity markets and plan out his season, and the rural business owner can execute an idea to create jobs without leaving home. One thing is for sure -- Nebraska stands to benefit from the Internet revolution.

But in order to reap these benefits, we need to make sure that our businesses and communities have access to the high-tech tools that make success possible. This means ensuring the private sector has both the incentive -- and ability -- to build across the American landscape. In that spirit, I was proud to welcome FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai to Omaha and showcase the impressive work we are accomplishing in Nebraska.

Commissioner Pai and I began his visit by leading a roundtable discussion with several Nebraska telecommunications companies. These businesses are developing high-speed Internet across the state and investing in ways to deploy more broadband. But regulatory uncertainty is holding them back.

The building blocks of Internet networks are high-cost projects, often requiring extensive planning and government approval that can take years. The message was clear: it's time to streamline the permitting process and encourage a framework to reduce regulatory uncertainty.

We also met with a group of Nebraska broadcasters and discussed many issues regarding their service. The broadcasting industry provides Nebraskans with access to critical news, weather and information from around the world. Our local broadcasters also face a range of challenges from Washington regulators in both their television and radio businesses. Nebraska broadcasters presented a simple message: minimize the regulatory impact and modernize obsolete rules so consumers can continue to rely on the local broadcasting that benefits so many in our communities.

Our tour of Omaha ended at Union Pacific's Harriman Dispatch Center. This state-of-the-art facility serves as Union Pacific's communication and traffic control center for trains across nearly 36,000 miles of track nationwide. It was exciting to see firsthand the innovative and highly technical work being done to move America's goods safely and efficiently. It was an honor to showcase the impressive work from this world-class Nebraska company.

I thank Commissioner Pai for joining me in Nebraska and laying out a concrete plan to address the issues facing businesses across the country. I look forward to working with him and his colleagues as we look to foster sound policies for Nebraska and the American people.

Building the broadband networks of tomorrow requires common-sense reform today. Through cooperation and sound policies, we can make Internet access and broadband deployment a national priority. Every American and every Nebraskan deserves an equal opportunity to compete and succeed in the digital world.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.