Economic and Community Develop

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; and 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 Outcomes of Tennessee's Proposed Project Are a Comprehensive Five-year Action Plan Identifying Tennessee's Broadband Access, Affordability, Equity, and Adoption Needs and Serving as a Benchmark for Adopting Strategies, Goals, and Initial Measures for Connecting All Residents of Tennessee With Reliable Broadband Service and Ensuring All Residents of Tennessee Have Access to Affordable, High-speed Internet. More Specific Outcomes Include a More Precise Assessment of the Actual Barriers Residents Are Facing That Impact Ability to Access Reliable Broadband Service; More Accurate Information About Community Concerns and Needs, Collecting More Data to Supplement the Plan, and Promoting Local and Community Engagement; Ability to Convey How to Properly Apply for Funds to Potential and Current Providers, Ability to Attract Provider Interest in Our Program; Better Prepared and Engaged Employees of the Broadband Office to Interact With Other Government Agencies, State and Local Partners, Other Stakeholders, and, Ultimately Promoting a More Cohesive Five-year Action Plan.intended Beneficiaries: the Intended Beneficiaries Are Unserved and Underserved Groups in the State of Tennessee With a Focus on Rural and Unserved Populations.subrecipient Activities: the Recipient Does Not Intend to Intend to Subaward Funds.