3820B106

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 the 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.
- 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 local coordination requirements in Section IV.C.1.C of the BEAD NOFO, including capacity building at the local and regional levels or contracted support.
- Other uses approved in writing by the Assistant Secretary that support the goals of the program.

Expected Outcomes: The outcomes of North Dakota's proposed project, "Broadband North Dakota (BND)," are a comprehensive five-year action plan identifying North Dakota'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 North Dakota with reliable broadband service.

Specific outcomes include:

- More precise assessment of the actual barriers residents are facing that impact their ability to access reliable broadband service.
- Greater capacity.
- The creation of a more comprehensive five-year action plan.
- Future project deliverables.
- An asset inventory that, when analyzed against North Dakota's needs assessment, will enable them to identify any resource, funding, and programming gaps.
- A more holistic representation of residents' issues.
- Inform the five-year plan by addressing availability, affordability, and adoptability of broadband services.
- A foundation for program activities to occur.
- Activity milestones that can be better outlined in the five-year plan.
- Reporting guidelines set up for future compliance.

Intended Beneficiaries: The intended beneficiaries are unserved and underserved groups in the state of North Dakota, with a focus on rural and unserved populations.

Subrecipient Activities: The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.

State Of North Dakota

NOT APPLICABLE

11.035 - Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [DOC]

Bismarck, North Dakota 58505-0602 United States

Single Zip Code

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (NTIA-BEAD-2022)

Infrastructure $5,000,000 (4%) percent this Project Grant was funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Act.
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 11/14/27 to 06/30/32 and the total obligations have increased 2503% from $5,000,000 to $130,162,815.