Closing the Broadband Availability Gap and Support the Development of a Five-Year Action Plan

Description

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; 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; Conducting Surveys of Unserved, Underserved, and Underrepresented Communities to Better Understand Barriers to Adoption; 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; Publications, Outreach, and Communications Supportexpected Outcomes: The Expected Outcomes of Maryland's Proposed Project, "Connect Maryland: Broadband for All," Are a Comprehensive Five-Year Action Plan, Initial Proposal, and Final Proposal, Which Identify Maryland's Broadband Access, Affordability, Equity and Adoption Needs; Will Also Serve as a Benchmark for Adopting Strategies, Goals, and Initial Measures for Connecting All Residents of Maryland with Reliable Broadband Service; and Support Maryland's Efforts to Ensure Access to Equitable and Reliable Broadband Service to All Maryland Households.intended Beneficiaries: The Intended Beneficiaries Are Unserved and Underserved Groups in the State of Maryland with a Focus on Rural and Unserved Populations.subrecipient Activities: The Recipient Does Intend to Subaward Funds for Community Planning Grants That Will Support Regional Broadband Planning Efforts.