Project Grant 3020B062

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; 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; 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; AND PUBLICATIONS, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT.EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE OUTCOMES OF MONTANA'S PROPOSED PROJECT, "CONNECTMT," ARE A COMPREHENSIVE FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN IDENTIFYING MONTANA?S BROADBAND ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY, EQUITY, AND ADOPTION NEEDS, ALSO SERVING AS A BENCHMARK FOR ADOPTING STRATEGIES, GOALS, AND INITIAL MEASURES FOR CONNECTING ALL RESIDENTS OF MONTANA WITH RELIABLE BROADBAND SERVICE. MORE SPECIFIC OUTCOMES INCLUDE INFORMING A COST ANALYSIS AND UTILIZATION OPTIMIZATION MODEL FOR BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE TO FRONTIER, UNSERVED, AND UNDERSERVED ADDRESSES AND INFORMING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE OF CONNECTMT FUNDING, ENABLING A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES DOWN TO THE ADDRESS LEVEL; CONDUCTING A SURVEY OF STATE RESIDENTS AND DEVELOPING MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT ALL COMMUNITIES ARE REPRESENTED IN THE MODEL; BETTER INFORMED AND PREPARED STAFF, PARTNERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS; AND THEREFORE, A MORE COLLABORATIVE AND COHESIVE FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN; INFORMED COST ANALYSIS AND UTILIZATION OPTIMIZATION MODEL; WELL-MANAGED, SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION; AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF BARRIERS TO ADOPTION.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED GROUPS IN THE STATE OF MONTANA WITH A FOCUS ON RURAL AND UNSERVED POPULATIONS.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.