Project Grant 2820B080

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; TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES OF BROADBAND PROGRAM OR OFFICE OF ELIGIBLE ENTITY OR EMPLOYEES OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF ELIGIBLE ENTITY, AND RELATED STAFFING CAPACITY OR CONSULTING OR CONTRACTED SUPPORT TO EFFECTUATE GOALS OF BEAD PROGRAM; 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; AND 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 OUTCOMES OF MISSISSIPPI'S PROPOSED PROJECT ARE A FIVE-YEAR PLAN IDENTIFYING MISSISSIPPI?S BROADBAND ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY, EQUITY, AND ADOPTION NEEDS, SERVING AS A BENCHMARK FOR ADOPTING STRATEGIES, GOALS, AND INITIAL MEASURES FOR CONNECTING ALL RESIDENTS OF MISSISSIPPI, AND ENSURING THAT ALL RESIDENTS OF MISSISSIPPI HAVE ACCESS TO RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET. MORE SPECIFIC OUTCOMES INCLUDE COMPILING DATA IN A READILY ACCESSIBLE FORMAT, IN PRINT AND ONLINE, PROVIDING AN ACCURATE AND PRECISE ASSESSMENT OF ACTUAL BARRIERS MISSISSIPPIANS FACE IMPACTING THE ABILITY TO ACCESS BROADBAND AND HELP ORDER PLANNING PROGRAM PRIORITIES; BETTER UNDERSTANDING BARRIERS TO ADOPTION THROUGH LIVED EXPERIENCES OF MISSISSIPPI RESIDENTS; AND QUALITY WRITTEN AND DIGITAL MATERIAL THAT IS EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE AND WILL ENGAGE THOSE WHO ARE UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED; SUB-RECIPIENTS POSSESSING INFORMATION NEEDED TO APPLY FOR BEAD FUNDING AT IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS; A MORE INFORMED, KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND EFFECTIVE STAFF; CAPACITY WITHIN ITS OFFICE TO MEET FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, RESPOND TO STAKEHOLDERS, AND ASSIST PROVIDERS TO PRODUCE AND IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT PLAN.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED GROUPS IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI WITH A FOCUS ON RURAL AND UNSERVED POPULATIONS.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.