This $5,299,150.18 Project Grant award from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the State Digital Equity Planning and Capacity Grant Program (CFDA 11.032) will enable the State of Vermont Public Service Department to implement Vermont's Digital Equity Plan. Key activities include: Creating a community-based digital skilling and technical support program to improve digital literacy for Vermont residents, especially unserved and underserved populations....
This $288,483 project grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration supports Valley Vision, Inc. to develop a broadband master plan for four counties in California under the Economic Adjustment Assistance program (CFDA 11.307). The plan will analyze existing broadband infrastructure and services, identify gaps and needs, and create a multi-stakeholder strategy to leverage industry clusters in the Connected Capital Area Broadband Consortium region by expanding access...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service awarded a $17,463,911.00 Project Grant under the Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program (CFDA 10.752) to NEK Community Broadband, a U.S. local government municipality. This 2-year grant, with a period of performance from May 2, 2023 to May 2, 2025, will fund infrastructure investments to expand broadband service to rural areas without sufficient access to broadband. The key products and services to be delivered through this funding...
This Project Grant award, provided by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the State Digital Equity Planning and Capacity Grant Program (CFDA 11.032), will fund the implementation of Kentucky's Digital Equity Plan. The key activities to be performed include building digital equity capacity at the community level, providing digital literacy and skills advancement training, and establishing an affordable device and refurbishing program. The expected...
This Project Grant award of $18,330,732.47 from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the State Digital Equity Planning and Capacity Grant Program (CFDA 11.032) will fund the implementation of the Virginia Digital Equity Plan. Key activities include: A digital skills, literacy, and distribution program to improve digital skills for underserved populations across Virginia. Development of a statewide online resource hub to provide Virginians access to local...
This federal Project Grant award from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the State Digital Equity Planning and Capacity Grant Program (CFDA 11.032) provides $9,011,588 to the West Virginia Department of Economic Development to implement the state's Digital Equity Plan. The key activities to be performed include launching digital skills and local digital equity planning programs, piloting a device program, conducting annual program evaluations, and...
This Project Grant award from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the State Digital Equity Planning and Capacity Grant Program (CFDA 11.032) will provide $4,540,059.53 to the Rhode Island Commerce Corp to implement the state's Digital Equity Plan. Key activities include: Providing technical assistance for digital skills integration into workforce training, education, small business support, and services for underserved populations statewide; investing in...
This $2,100,000 Project Grant, awarded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the State Digital Equity Planning and Capacity Grant Program (CFDA 11.032), will support a range of digital inclusion initiatives in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Key activities include: Providing digital skills training and free/low-cost devices to individuals impacted by the justice system and those re-entering society through a "Learn2Earn" model; expanding STEM/digital...
This $6,938,534.64 Project Grant award from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the State Digital Equity Planning and Capacity Grant Program (CFDA 11.032) will fund the implementation of Montana's Digital Equity Plan. Key activities include: Providing over-the-phone and video remote interpretation services to underserved Montana populations; upgrading broadband access at the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind to support distance learning; expanding...
This $9,947,586.17 Project Grant award from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the State Digital Equity Planning and Capacity Grant Program (CFDA 11.032) will enable the Oregon Business Development Department to implement the Oregon Digital Equity Plan. Key activities include providing online safety and privacy training, conducting program evaluations and data collection, and delivering education and outreach to increase access to affordable broadband...
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; THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR PRE-PLANNING ACTIVITIES; 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; 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 VERMONT'S PROPOSED PROJECT, "VERMONT BEAD PLANNING," ARE A COMPREHENSIVE FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN WHICH BUILDS ON VERMONT'S EXISTING 10-YEAR TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLAN. THE FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN WILL IDENTIFY VERMONT'S BROADBAND ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY, EQUITY, AND ADOPTION NEEDS; SERVE AS A BENCHMARK FOR ADOPTING STRATEGIES, GOALS, AND INITIAL MEASURES FOR CONNECTING ALL RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF VERMONT WITH RELIABLE BROADBAND SERVICE; AND ENSURING ALL RESIDENTS OF VERMONT HAVE ACCESS TO RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE, AND HIGH-SPEED INTERNET THROUGH COMMUNICATION UNION DISTRICTS (CUD) AND NON-CUDS WORKING WITH TELECOMMUNICATION PARTNERS. MORE SPECIFICALLY, OUTCOMES INCLUDE A STATE-WIDE NETWORK DESIGN, PRECISE ASSESSMENT OF THE BARRIERS TO ACCESS, WORKFORCE AND SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES, DISASTER AND CYBER-SECURITY HARDENING, AND STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE ACCESS, REDUNDANCY AND RESILIENCY; BETTER GAUGING OF ACTIVITY PROGRESS AND MEASURING ACTIVITY COMPLETION; BETTER INFORMED AND PREPARED STAFF, PARTNERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ALLOWING FOR A MORE COLLABORATIVE AND COHESIVE FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN; GREATER CAPACITY AND CREATION OF A MORE COMPREHENSIVE FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN, AND BUILDING SUPPORT FOR FUTURE PROJECT DELIVERABLES; CREATING AN ASSET INVENTORY TO BE ANALYZED AGAINST EXISTING FCC MAPS, ENABLING CATALOGUING AND IDENTIFYING GAPS IN BROADBAND ADOPTION, AFFORDABILITY, EQUITY, ACCESS AND DEPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED GROUPS IN THE STATE OF VERMONT WITH A FOCUS ON RURAL AND UNSERVED POPULATIONS.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS TO THE 9 COMMUNICATION UNION DISTRICTS, REPRESENTED BY THE VERMONT COMMUNICATION UNION DISTRICT ASSOCIATION.