Project Grant 5020B138N

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 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 NINE COMMUNICATION UNION DISTRICTS, REPRESENTED BY THE VERMONT COMMUNICATION UNION DISTRICT ASSOCIATION.