By Katie Knapp
Omaha, NE – Senator Bill Avery proposed LB 905, which sets up the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Programming Endowment Fund. Avery's legislation would set aside $50 million from Nebraska's cash reserve. The interest accrued on that money would be diverted into the special state fund.
Avery says he proposed the bill because of uncertainties in state funding. He also hopes it'll help NET secure programming contracts for Cornhuskers sporting events so Nebraskans in sparsely populated areas can tune in. He admits that some lawmakers have questions about the bill's intent, and that Appropriations Chairman Senator Lavon Heidemann isn't sure about earmarking money for the endowment fund.