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Leaders in rural communities know broadband is a sure bet. Here’s how Nextlink Internet is returning the favor, by betting on rural America.
By Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Ebony Cooksey says Nextlink Internet has made it their mission to expand service to rural America, especially in tiny farming communities throughout Heartland. As they expand, beyond fixed wireless to fiber, she said the ISP is focused on deploying “the right tool for the toolkit,” depending on the needs of individual communities.
Cooksey serves as Nextlink’s market development and government affairs manager. She builds relationships with many local officials through her role. According to Cooksey, local officials in rural towns often are seeking to enhance opportunity.
“They know that broadband is the way to improve economic development and healthcare, and educational outcomes for those communities,” she said.
Just as rural communities bet on broadband, Nextlink strategy bets on rural communities, Cooksey explained.
Staying sensitive to non-deployment concerns
In all communities, Cooksey said the company makes a point to be sensitive to “non-deployment concerns” in rural communities.
“Some of the folks are struggling,” she added. “And we want to help to improve that.”
One of the ways Nextlink hopes to improve conditions in their footprint is through investment in digital skills trainings.
A new Digital Empowerment Center, opened by Nextlink in Seward, Nebraska, showcases the company’s strategy.
Listen to the full interview with Cooksey on Spotify!
The center, located in a previously empty storefront, gives assistance to the public with basic digital skills, offering workshops that cover everything from online banking to how to send emails.
“We’re really trying to get to those digital skills,” she said, while praising Nextlink Internet’s partnership with the Microsoft Airband Initiative.
She said for some folks, digital skills may just mean being able to see photos of their grandkids online. It may also mean getting out of social isolation, Cooksey said.
Nextlink Internet in the news
Fiber network build begins in Brenham, Canton, and Falls County (June 2025)
Nextlink has announced 4 fiber expansions in Texas this year (April 2025)
Through the partnership, Nextlink Internet offers a free digital literacy course, access to tools that can help sharpen technical skills, Minecraft Hour of Code tutorials targeted towards giving a youth audience coding experience, and tips for participating safely online.
Initial workshops put on by the center included courses on basic devices navigation, photo editing, internet security, and AI tools.