Not listed FBIC WILL ANALYZE THE KEY DATA RELEVANT TO UNDERSTANDING CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE EXTENSION, DELIVERY, AND ITS LIMITATIONS INCLUDING THE MIDDLE MILE INFRASTRUCTURE TO CONNECT ANY FUTURE SERVICES BY EITHER THE INCUMBENT OR A NEW PROVIDER. WE WILL DETERMINE THE CURRENT LEVEL OF THE TRIBES TECHNICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, ORGANIZATIONAL, AND MANAGEMENT CAPACITY FOR BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT. FBIC WILL ALSO DETERMINE WHICH TECHNICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, OR ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT CAPACITIES FOR BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT WILL NEED ENHANCEMENT. IMPORTANT INPUTS ANALYZED AND THEN COMBINED INTO THE REPORT WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: BROADBAND: ANALYZE AND IDENTIFY USAGE, DEMAND, INCUMBENT INTERNET RATES, SERVICE TOWERS, GROUND-LAID BROADBAND WIRING, AND INTERCONNECTING MIDDLE MILE MEANS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE EXPANSION (REMOTE WORK CAPABILITIES) FOR TRIBAL MEMBERS.BROADBAND USE AND ADOPTION REPORT - EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS, EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TRIBAL MEMBERS, AND LOCAL OR REMOTE EDUCATIONAL LEARNING CAPABILITIES.LEGAL REGULATORY: REVIEW RIGHT OF WAYS, TRIBAL CONSTITUTION, LEASES, PERMITTING, AND RULINGS WITHIN AND WITHOUT RELEVANT TO TRIBE HISTORY, ALONG WITH AN EVALUATION OF THE KEY CONTRACTUAL UNDERPINNINGS REQUIRED TO FORM A TRIBAL SERVICE PROVIDER. ORGANIZATIONAL: ASSIST THE TRIBE IN DETERMINING THE OPTIMAL OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE BASED ON EXISTING TRIBAL DEPARTMENTS, ENTERPRISES, COMMITTEES, AND LEADERSHIP INPUT OPPORTUNITIES AND OR LIMITATIONS. FINANCE: IDENTIFY ECONOMIC DRIVERS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY. FURTHER DEFINE AND QUANTIFY THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE IMPACT OF KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS, AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS, AND DEFINE TIMELINES THAT MAY BE INTEGRAL TO MEETING PARTICULAR STATE OR FEDERAL INCENTIVES OR OTHER TIME-SENSITIVE REQUIREMENTS WHICH AFFECT ECONOMICS. THERE WILL ALSO BE A REVIEW OF CURRENT AND FUTURE GRANT, LOAN, OR OTHER PROGRAMS FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF NEW OR EXPANDED BROADBAND CAPABILITIES ON THE RESERVATION AND WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS (MONTANA HAS SEVERAL RESTRICTIONS ON NON-ETC S FROM GAINING BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT FUNDS). THIS STUDY WILL ENCOMPASS THE EXISTING, PLANNED, OR REQUESTED MIDDLE MILE INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALSO CHANGES TO THE OVERALL RESERVATION AREA WITH TRIBAL MEMBERS MOVING BACK TO THE RESERVATION DUE TO THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE, NEW HOUSING COMMUNITIES BEING DEVELOPED AND REQUIRING SIGNIFICANT BROADBAND EXPANSION, WHILE ALSO WORKING TO IDENTIFY AND ESTIMATE THE EXPANSION OR IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICES ON THE TRIBAL RESERVATION CONSIDERING OVER HALF OF THE RESERVATION LACKS HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND AND 100 OF THE RESERVATION IS LACKING STABLE, RELIABLE, AND AFFORDABLE BROADBAND THAT STILL DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE NTIAS OR FCCS CLASSIFICATION OF SERVED. THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WILL PROVIDE A REPORT TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING ITEMS - AN ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF BUILDING OR EXPANDING A BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE BY EITHER A NEW ORGANIZATION OR THE INCUMBENT A DETERMINATION OF THE TRANSMISSION MEDIUM(S) THAT WILL BE EMPLOYED (MIDDLE MILE INFRASTRUCTURE AND TIER-1 PROVIDERS) IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL FUNDING AND OR FINANCING FOR THE DEPLOYMENT AND CONSIDERATION OF FINANCIAL AND PRACTICAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPING A BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE WHAT WILL BE THE ADDITIONAL COSTS TO THE INCUMBENT OR TO A NEW ORGANIZATION AND ACCOUNT FOR THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM OR OTHER OPTIONS TO HELP DRIVE AFFORDABILITY AND BROADBAND OBTAINMENT FOR TRIBAL MEMBERS. THE NEXT PORTION OF THIS PLAN THROUGH THIS FEASIBILITY STUDY WOULD BE TO IDENTIFY HOW THIS BROADBAND WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THEN ADDRESS TRIBAL NEEDS TO SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY (JOB CREATION AND RETENTION), CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-EMPLOYMENT, ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND REMOTE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY. $161.4k 5/17/23