PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO SUPPORT CLOSING THE BROADBAND AVAILABILITY GAP AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN.THE PROPOSED PROJECT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING PLANNING AND PRE-DEPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES: RESEARCH AND DATA COLLECTION, INCLUDING INITIAL IDENTIFICATION OF UNSERVED LOCATIONS AND UNDERSERVED LOCATIONS CONSISTENT WITH RULES, REGULATIONS, AND PROCESSES COMMISSION HAS ESTABLISHED FOR MAKING DETERMINATIONS IN BROADBAND DATA MAPS; PUBLICATIONS, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT; PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO POTENTIAL SUBGRANTEES, INCLUDING THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS; ESTABLISHING, OPERATING, OR INCREASING CAPACITY OF A BROADBAND OFFICE THAT OVERSEES BROADBAND PROGRAMS AND BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT IN AN ELIGIBLE ENTITY; ASSET MAPPING ACROSS THE ELIGIBLE ENTITY TO CATALOGUE BROADBAND ADOPTION, AFFORDABILITY, EQUITY, ACCESS AND DEPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES OCCURRING WITHIN THE ELIGIBLE ENTITY; CONDUCTING SURVEYS OF UNSERVED, UNDERSERVED, AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND BARRIERS TO ADOPTION; COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MEETING THE LOCAL COORDINATION REQUIREMENTS IN SECTION IV.C.1.C OF THIS NOFO INCLUDING CAPACITY BUILDING AT THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL LEVELS OR CONTRACTED SUPPORT. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF GEORGIA'S PROPOSED PROJECT ARE THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN THAT IDENTIFIES GEORGIA'S BROADBAND ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY, EQUITY, AND ADOPTION NEEDS AND ALSO SERVES AS A BENCHMARK FOR STRATEGIES, GOALS, AND INITIAL MEASURES TO MEET THE OBJECTIVES OF THE BEAD PROGRAM, AND INITIAL PROPOSAL AND FINAL PROPOSALS.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED GROUPS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA WITH A FOCUS ON RURAL AND UNSERVED POPULATIONS.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT INTENDS TO SUBAWARD FUNDS TO THE GEORGIA TECHNOLOGY AUTHORITY (GTA).