Ohio Department of Development

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; 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 Expected Outcomes of the Applicant's Proposed Project Will Be to Define and Outline Longer Term Objectives for Deploying Broadband, Closing the Digital Divide, and Addressing Access and Affordability Issues as Well as Enhancing Economic Growth and Job Creation. the Proposed Activities Will: Support the Identification of Unserved and Underserved Locations and the Creation of Data Maps and Identification of Gaps Related to Adoption, Affordability, Equity, Access, and Deployment; Support the Development of the Budget and Resources That Will Be Required to Implement the Bead Program; Support the Planning for and Engagement of Future Subgrantees; and Coordinate With Local and Regional Stakeholders. Intended Beneficiaries: the Intended Beneficiaries Are Unserved and Underserved Groups in the State of Ohio With a Focus on Rural and Unserved Populations.subrecipient Activities: the Recipient Does Not Intend to Subaward Funds for This Portion of the Project.