Project Grant 3820B106

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 LOCAL COORDINATION REQUIREMENTS IN SECTION IV.C.1.C OF THE BEAD NOFO INCLUDING CAPACITY BUILDING AT THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL LEVELS OR CONTRACTED SUPPORT; AND OTHER USES APPROVED IN WRITING BY THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY THAT SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE OUTCOMES OF NORTH DAKOTA'S PROPOSED PROJECT, "BROADBAND NORTH DAKOTA (BND)," ARE A COMPREHENSIVE FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN IDENTIFYING NORTH DAKOTA'S BROADBAND ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY, EQUITY, AND ADOPTION NEEDS AND SERVING AS A BENCHMARK FOR ADOPTING STRATEGIES, GOALS, AND INITIAL MEASURES FOR CONNECTING ALL RESIDENTS OF NORTH DAKOTA WITH RELIABLE BROADBAND SERVICE. SPECIFIC OUTCOMES INCLUDE MORE PRECISE ASSESSMENT OF THE ACTUAL BARRIERS RESIDENTS ARE FACING THAT IMPACT THEIR ABILITY TO ACCESS RELIABLE BROADBAND SERVICE; GREATER CAPACITY; AND THE CREATION OF A MORE COMPREHENSIVE FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN; FUTURE PROJECT DELIVERABLES; AN ASSET INVENTORY, THAT WHEN ANALYZED AGAINST NORTH DAKOTA'S NEEDS ASSESSMENT, WILL ENABLE THEM TO IDENTIFY ANY RESOURCE, FUNDING, AND PROGRAMMING GAPS; A MORE HOLISTIC REPRESENTATION OF RESIDENTS' ISSUES; INFORM THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN BY ADDRESSING AVAILABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, ADOPTABILITY OF BROADBAND SERVICES; A FOUNDATION FOR PROGRAM ACTIVITIES TO OCCUR; ACTIVITY MILESTONES THAT CAN BE BETTER OUTLINED IN THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN; AND REPORTING GUIDELINES SET UP FOR FUTURE COMPLIANCE.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED GROUPS IN THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA WITH A FOCUS ON RURAL AND UNSERVED POPULATIONS.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.