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Virtual Job Fair to Highlight Hundreds of State Agency Opportunities Jobseekers are encouraged to attend the upcoming State of Kansas Agencies Virtual Job Fair from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 27. This month’s virtual fair, hosted by KANSASWORKS, will feature many exciting employment opportunities available across the state’s 98 government agencies. Currently, there are more than 700 vacancies across the state. Governor Kelly Travels to Japan, South Korea to Create More Jobs for Kansans This week, Governor Laura Kelly traveled to Japan and South Korea to participate in the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association (MWJA/JMWA) Conference. While there, she met with business leaders to continue building on Kansas’ historic economic development success and create new job opportunities for Kansas workers. Kansas Commerce Department Hires New International Director Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today Laura Lombard has been named the agency’s new International Director. Lombard brings 15 years of experience in international relations and business development to the position, most recently serving as President and CEO of Kansas Global Trade Services in Wichita. Governor Kelly Announces Funding to Grow Small Business Exports Governor Laura Kelly today announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) awarded $200,000 to the Kansas Department of Commerce to expand the state’s robust export sector, which hit an all-time high of $13.97 billion in 2022. The agency’s International Division oversees the administration of the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) award, enabling eligible businesses to leverage these funds for conducting focused activities that promote export growth. View All

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Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD)

The BEAD program includes $42 billion for high-speed Internet access. This federal grant program, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act goal is to provide universal internet by funding partnerships between states or territories, communities, and stakeholders to build infrastructure where needed to and increase adoption of high-speed internet. BEAD prioritizes unserved locations that have no internet access or that only have access under 25/3 Mbps and underserved locations only have access under 100/20 Mbps.

The National Telecommunication Information and Administration allocated $451 million dollars in Kansas to address the digital divide. This work requires the creation of a 5-Year Action Plan detailing the vision, current state of broadband and digital inclusion, obstacles and barriers and an implementation plan for universal service.

Initial Proposal Volume 1 Public Comment

Across the state we encourage residents, community organizations, businesses, and local authorities, to participate in the public comment period for Volume 1 of the Initial Proposal. The document adheres to NTIA guidelines and includes a description of each requirement along with attachments, available for public inspection and comments.

KOBD will use your input to update the BEAD-IP, Volume 1, which focuses on existing funding, unserved and underserved locations, community anchor institutions (CAI), and a challenge process that will follow the approval of this plan. A second volume of the BEAD-IP will be released at a later date to address other NTIA requirements such as the subgrantee selection process. You can learn more from this Notice of Funding Opportunity.

UPDATE: Based on feedback we have made a few updates and have reposted these changes for review and comment closed on September 5, 2023. For easy reference these are the sections of Volume 1 that have been revised:

  • Requirement 3: Added language in the Existing Broadband Funding
  • Requirement 6: Provided some additional detail in the Community Anchor Institutions
  • Requirement 7: Refined language and expanded detail about pre-challenge modifications in the Challenge Process
  • Full Document: Aligned attachments with the NTIA template formats and made some additions…

You can view the full document including the changes made by clicking the button below.

Volume I Resources

Description

The Broadband Equity Access and Deployment 5–Year Action Plan along with Volume 1 and Volume 2 will identify served, unserved, and underserved locations across the state. The 5-Year Action Plan addresses the “what” KOBD will be doing and Volume 1 and Volume 2 address the “how” it will happen and how KOBD will address the digital divide.

Volume 1: Public Comment Period Dates

The public comment period was open for thirty (30) days and was extended to 5:00 p.m. (CT) September 5, 2023.

Public Comments Received

Volume 1 Public Comments

Comment NumberNameOrganization Represented (as applicable)Documented Comment
1Laura MusilBlue Rapids Community Action TeamLink to PDF
2Laura MusilBlue Rapids Community Action TeamLink to PDF
3David MillerNALink to PDF
4Troy SmithNALink to PDF
5Steve McClintockNALink to PDF
6Nasha LeeNALink to PDF
7Courtney HowellNALink to PDF
8Darrin HiebertNALink to PDF
9Carol PhelpsNALink to PDF
10Steve KibbeeNALink to PDF
11Cindy PriceNALink to PDF
12Cole HerderCity of HumboldtLink to PDF
13Cole HerderCity of HumboldtLink to PDF
14Deb MinklerRawlins County Economic DevelopmentLink to PDF
15Douglas LawsonNALink to PDF
16Katie EisenhourScott County Development Committee – on behalf of Scott City and Scott County in their entiretyLink to PDF
17Alisha HerrmannEdwards County Medical CenterLink to PDF
18Rick PetersonKansas State Research and Extension (KSRE) Link to PDF
19Janet McRaeNALink to PDF
20Jenny MillerEducationSuperHighwayLink to PDF
21Chris BreedenNALink to PDF
22Becki RegierHome Communications, Inc.Link to PDF
23Chris BreedenKansas Cable Telecommunications Association (KCTA)Link to PDF
24Stephen DuerstNALink to PDF
25Pamela SherwoodConnect Holding II LLC d/b/a BrightspeedLink to PDF
26Anthony TateCompudoptLink to PDF
27Marlene Nagel
Mid-America Regional CouncilLink to PDF
28Nathan Madden
Health Forward FoundationLink to PDF
29John Reardon
NALink to PDF
30David Norlin
NALink to PDF
31Stephen DuerstKansas Cable Telecommunications Association (KCTA)

Link to PDF
32Jim Jamison
AT&TLink to PDF
Why Participate in Public Comment

KOBD will use your input to update the BEAD-IP, Volume 1, which focuses on existing funding, unserved and underserved locations, community anchor institutions (CAI), and a challenge process that will follow the approval of this plan. A second volume of the BEAD-IP will be released at a later date to address other NTIA requirements such as the subgrantee selection process. You can learn more from this Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Contact Us
Learn More about Volume 1

To learn more about the challenge process and requirements please see document from Nation Telecommunications Information and Administration (NTIA)

  • Existing Broadband Efforts Guidance: Find on pages 11-12 of the document referenced above
  • Unserved and Underserved Kansans Guidance: Find on page 13 of the document referenced above
  • Community Anchor Institution (CAI) Guidance: Find on pages 14 -17 of the document referenced above
  • BEAD Model Challenge Process Guidance: Find on pages 18 -26 of the document referenced above
FAQ’s
  1. What does this BSL data provided include? These .csv files containing the BSL locations linked for public comment were provided specifically from the NTIA. This data does not reflect all areas with enforceable commitments. This work will be done via a process called deduplication. KOBD is awaiting the tool from NTIA to complete this.

    Deduplication: Identify broadband serviceable locations that are subject to enforceable commitments and remove those locations from having the status of “eligible.”

“My administration is committed to ensuring every Kansan, regardless of their zip code, has access to fast and
reliable internet connectivity, bringing additional economic growth, educational opportunities, and telehealth
services. This funding advances our progress toward being a top 10 state for broadband access by 2030.”

Governor Laura Kelly

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