Project Grant 5620B113

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; AND CONDUCTING SURVEYS OF UNSERVED, UNDERSERVED, AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND BARRIERS TO ADOPTION. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN THE BROADBAND OFFICE'S CAPACITY, DEVELOP THE 5-YEAR PLAN, INITIAL PROPOSAL, CHALLENGE PROCESS, AND FINAL PROPOSAL, AND PROVIDE AUDIT AND COMPLIANCE EXPERTISE THROUGHOUT THE BEAD PROGRAM'S PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED GROUPS IN THE STATE OF WYOMING WITH A FOCUS ON RURAL AND UNSERVED POPULATIONS.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.