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; Publications, Outreach, and Communications Support; 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.expected Outcomes: The Expected Outcomes of the Proposed Project Are to Conduct Activities That Will Inform the Design and Implementation of a Comprehensive Five-Year Action Plan That Will Identify Minnesota's Broadband Access, Affordability, Equity and Adoption Needs; and Will Serve as a Benchmark for Adopting Strategies, Goals, and Initial Measures for Connecting All Residents of Minnesota with Reliable Broadband Service.intended Beneficiaries: The Intended Beneficiaries Are Unserved and Underserved Groups in the State of Minnesota with a Focus on Rural and Unserved Populations.subrecipient Activities: The Recipient Does Not Intend to Subaward Funds for This Portion of the Project.