Project Grant 7220B095

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; PUBLICATIONS, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT; 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; 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; 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 PUERTO RICO'S PROPOSED PROJECT, "PUERTO RICO, SMART ISLAND (THE SMART ISLAND INITIATIVE)," ARE AN ASSESSMENT REPORT ABOUT HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND SERVICE IN PUERTO RICO AND THE ENSUING COMPREHENSIVE FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN IDENTIFYING PUERTO RICO'S BROADBAND ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY, EQUITY, AND ADOPTION NEEDS; INTEGRATING BOTH BEAD AND DIGITAL EQUITY PROGRAMS; A PRE-PLANNING BUDGET; BETTER INFORMED AND PREPARED STAFF, PARTNERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO A COHESIVE FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN; EQUIPPING THE BROADBAND OFFICE WITH THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVE THE FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN IN ESTABLISHED TIMEFRAME; CREATING AN ASSET INVENTORY AND MAPPING THAT, WHEN COMPARED TO THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT, ALLOWS PUERTO RICO TO IDENTIFY RESOURCE, FUNDING, AND PROGRAMMING GAPS; AND CONDUCTING SURVEYS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH FACILITATING AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF THE RESIDENTS' ISSUES. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED GROUPS IN THE TERRITORY OF PUERTO RICO WITH A FOCUS ON RURAL AND UNSERVED POPULATIONS.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.