The Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) has announced a strategic partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink to enhance broadband coverage across Nebraska, particularly in rural areas. This collaboration aims to address the critical need for reliable, high-speed internet service for Nebraska’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
NEFB President Mark McHargue emphasized the importance of internet access for modern agriculture and the prosperity of small towns that farmers and ranchers depend on. “Starlink’s model of providing quality broadband in Nebraska is revolutionary. Working with Starlink will help ensure quality internet service is delivered to all areas of the state,” McHargue said.
Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, is globally recognized for its advanced broadband internet system. The service offers high-speed, low-latency broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls, and more to users worldwide. It’s essentially connecting every spot on Earth with high-speed connectivity.
The partnership will offer NEFB members two months of free Starlink service, a value of nearly $200, when subscribing to Starlink for high-speed broadband internet service in remote and rural areas in Nebraska.
McHargue highlighted the ongoing struggle of farms, ranches, rural households, and businesses to access reliable high-speed internet. He noted that the partnership with Starlink is a proactive step to address this issue, bypassing regulatory hurdles and the high cost of extending fiber to the “last mile.”
Chad Gibbs, SpaceX’s Vice President of Starlink Business Operations, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “Starlink is ideal for those who live and work in rural communities, and we couldn’t be more excited to work with the Nebraska Farm Bureau to offer reliable high-speed internet coverage to the last acre for farmers and ranchers across the state.”
To get this new member benefit, NEFB members can sign in to the online portal. They can then find the Starlink benefit and use the link to sign up as a new customer for Starlink service. The Starlink kit is mailed to the member and takes minutes to install. A credit for the first two months of service will appear on the member’s Starlink statement.
McHargue concluded, “This is an incredible opportunity for farmers, ranchers, and all Nebraskans to have access to high-speed high-quality internet service. Ensuring quality broadband and internet services are provided to Nebraska farm and ranch communities is a key goal of Nebraska Farm Bureau, and we are pleased to support this process by working with Starlink.”
The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans. It represents more than 55,000 families across Nebraska, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity, as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy.
