Arkansas Economic Development Commission

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; 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.expected Outcomes: the Arkansas State Broadband Office Is Requesting Funding to Help Support the Pursuit of Offering More Reliable Broadband Service to Every Broadband Serviceable Location in the State. Along With the Arkansas Rural Connect Grant Program, the Outcomes of Arkansas' Proposed Project, "bead for Arkansas," Are a Comprehensive Five-year Action Plan Resulting in Broadband Access to Additional Unserved and Underserved Households, Decreasing the Digital Illiteracy Rate in Arkansas by 50, Ensuring Digital Equity Is Met Among All Arkansans, Acceptable Adoption Rates for New Services, and Enhancing Economic Growth and Job Creation Within the State.intended Beneficiaries: the Intended Beneficiaries Are Unserved and Underserved Groups in the State of Arkansas 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.