What Happened?
Nevada paid a company called Uprise Fiber $9.1 million upfront for a fiber optic internet project. Now that money has disappeared, little work got done, and there’s a criminal investigation.
At a recent hearing, lawmakers questioned NDOT Director Tracy Larkin Thomason about why so much money was paid upfront.
“No, it’s not common,” Thomason admitted when asked if paying most funds before work begins is normal practice.
The project was supposed to bring high-speed internet to rural Pershing County, where folks have been waiting for better connections since 2022.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
This situation hits on core conservative values – responsible government spending and accountability. Your tax dollars—$9.1 million of them—were handed over with apparently few safeguards. That’s enough money to fund many small-town budgets for a year.
Senator Ira Hansen (R), representing Pershing County, pointed out the obvious problem:
“What we need to do is find out why a contract was issued by the state of Nevada to a private party with no protections.”
This case shows why conservatives push for careful oversight of government spending and proper checks and balances. When government agencies rush to spend money without proper safeguards, taxpayers lose.
The Blame Game
No one seems eager to take responsibility. The Governor’s office notes the contract was put together in 2022, before Lombardo took office—though it was signed after he became governor.
Hansen said:
“This was done through the Attorney General’s Office. Those are attorneys for the state of Nevada. Somebody in that office dropped the ball totally on this,”
The Attorney General’s Office, which approved the contract, appears defensive. Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) responded that Hansen is “uninformed of all the facts” and accused him of trying to “politicize this issue.”
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Melanie Scheible (D) seemed reluctant to investigate, saying they “still need more information.”
When pressed about holding a public hearing, her interview with News 4 was ended by a Democratic staffer.
The Pattern of Government Waste
This isn’t the first time government agencies have mismanaged large sums of taxpayer money. Across the country, similar stories play out with disappointing regularity. From unused COVID supplies to abandoned infrastructure projects, the pattern is familiar to many conservatives.
The problem often stems from a lack of accountability. When everyone from the NDOT board to the Attorney General’s office can point fingers elsewhere, nobody takes responsibility for protecting public funds.
This Nevada case highlights why many conservatives advocate for smaller government with tighter controls. It’s not about being against progress or even rural internet access—it’s about ensuring that when government does spend money, it does so wisely and with proper oversight.
What Could Happen Next?
The criminal investigation continues, but it’s unclear if the money can be recovered. The owner of Uprise has resigned from his family’s investment business, which raises more questions.
A subcontractor called Comm NV has sued both Uprise and NDOT for not paying for work they actually completed on the project.
Senator Hansen has reached out to the state treasurer asking if laws need to be strengthened to prevent similar problems in the future.
Without more voices demanding accountability, however, there’s a real risk this case could fade from public attention before the full story comes to light. The $9 million might never be recovered, and the system that allowed such a failure could remain unchanged.
As this case unfolds, it serves as a reminder of why vigilance over government spending isn’t just a conservative talking point—it’s a necessary protection for all taxpayers. While rural Pershing County still waits for the high-speed internet they were promised, the only thing that’s moved at high speed so far is $9.1 million out of the state’s bank account.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
