Nextlink Internet is expanding beyond urban markets into rural America, deploying a blend of fixed wireless and fiber to reach farming communities in the Heartland. The company says its approach is tailored to each community, deploying “the right tool for the toolkit” based on local needs.
As outlined by Ebony Cooksey, Nextlink’s market development and government affairs manager, the strategy hinges on building strong ties with local officials who see broadband as a catalyst for economic development, healthcare improvements, and better educational outcomes. “They know that broadband is the way to improve economic development and healthcare, and educational outcomes for those communities,” she said.
In Seward, Nebraska, Nextlink opened a Digital Empowerment Center to provide basic digital skills training, online banking guidance, and other workshops. The storefront-center is designed to connect residents with essential digital life tools and reduce isolation in rural areas.
The company credits partnerships like the Microsoft Airband Initiative for enabling broader digital literacy efforts. Through the initiative, Nextlink offers a free digital literacy course, access to tools that sharpen technical skills, and coding experiences such as Minecraft Hour of Code for youth participants.
Initial workshops at the center covered device navigation, internet security, and AI tools, with plans to expand to additional programs that help residents navigate online services and participate in a modern economy. “We’re really trying to get to those digital skills,” Cooksey noted, highlighting the center’s role in supporting lifelong learning and reducing social isolation.
Ultimately, Nextlink’s rural expansion aims to boost healthcare access, educational outcomes, and local economies by providing communities with scalable connectivity and digital-literacy resources, signaling a long-term bet on the resilience and opportunity of rural America.
