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Virtual Job Fair Offers Hundreds of Employment Opportunities in Kansas Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland encourages jobseekers and employers searching for talent to take part in the final Virtual Statewide Job Fair of the year, hosted by KANSASWORKS, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 13. Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $15M Available to Connect Kansans to Digital Devices and Public Wi-Fi Governor Laura Kelly announced today that applications are open for the Advancing Digital Opportunities to Promote Technology (ADOPT) program. A total of $14.7 million in grant awards will be available to organizations addressing the challenges of broadband accessibility, affordability, and device availability. Governor Kelly Announces $28.5M for High-Speed Internet Infrastructure Governor Laura Kelly announced today that $28.5 million in grants were awarded to 12 entities through the Lasting Infrastructure and Network Connectivity (LINC) program. The LINC program provides strategic funding for crucial aspects of broadband connectivity to reduce the cost of internet service, increase availability, and improve performance. Governor Kelly Announces $5M to Expand Access to High-Speed Internet in Rural Kansas Communities Governor Laura Kelly today announced that $5 million has been awarded to eight internet service providers (ISPs) in the latest round of Broadband Acceleration Grants for 2023. The awards will be paired with an additional $6.6 million in matching funds, resulting in an investment of nearly $12 million for high-speed broadband access projects across 10 rural Kansas counties. 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.

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.

Challenge Process Information

Challenge Process Background

The Kansas Office of Broadband Development is committed to ensuring all eligible entities have the opportunity to challenge areas that may show unserved or served to most efficiently fund buildout. The official challenge process was outlined in Volume 1 of the Initial Proposal and required the process be transparent, evidence based and expedient.

The Four Phases of the Challenge Process:

  • Publish List of Eligible locations
  • Accept Challenges
  • Solicit Rebuttals
  • Final Determination

Eligible Challenging Entities include:

  • Tribal or Local Governments
  • Nonprofit Organizations
  • Internet Service Providers

Location Info:

  • This list is based on Version 2 of the National Broadband Availability map with iterative updates as of November 7th. Version 3 will be used in the final deduplication. 
  • KOBD performed: Technology/DSL Modifications, Speed Test Modifications, and Deduplication using the NTIA Toolkit as specified in BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 1.

Files for Download:

  • BSL – Zip File (contains two files)
    • BSL_List_eligibility
      • You will need database/GIS software to open the file
      • The “final_eligibility” will be key to determine eligibility
    • BSL_List_eligibility_data_dictionary
      • Refer to the data dictionary file to understand fields
  • Community Anchor Institutions

Post Deduplication Process: KOBD will use the NTIA Toolkit and deduplicate our current state grant programs, LINC, BAG 3.0, and the federal Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (EACAM), that may be awarded and/or contracted during the Challenge Process. Enforceable Commitment Challenges for these program locations are not necessary.

Challenge Resources

Challenge Process OverviewVolume 1 -Full Document
Acceptable EvidenceNTIA Document
Data LicensesNTIA Webpage on CostQuest Licensing
Challenge Portal GuidelinesKOBD Challenge Portal Guideline Document
Challenge Portal- RegistrationChallenge Portal- Registration
FAQ’s
  1. Where can I find a file for school districts for use in mapping software? The following link will direct you to the ‘Kansas Geoportal.’ The School Districts can be downloaded in a variety of formats (CSV, KML, Shapefile, or GeoJSON). Kansas School District Link
  2. 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.”
  3. What is the update to the RDOF awards for challenge purposes? Any area that received federal or state monies and will meet the 100/20 speeds for qualified broadband service under BEAD are not eligible for BEAD money. Thus, already awarded areas will be removed in the BEAD deduplication process. The deduplication process is where broadband serviceable locations are identified and removed, thereby making them ineligible for funding under BEAD.
  4. Will there be a chance for the Kansas Office of Broadband Development to advocate federally? Yes. There will continue to be periodic opportunities for eligible entities such as state governments to provide public comment to the FCC and NTIA. There are also informal opportunities for feedback to be provided to relevant federal agencies.
  5. Can we assume, then, that all BSLs with “2” in the “Final_Eligibility” field are considered already served, and barring any future changes to this status, these BSLs will be categorically excluded from all applications in the upcoming BEAD program? Up to 20% of the BSLs in a Project Area can be served.  However, the cost of the Project Area would be limited only to those BSLs that are unserved (0) or underserved (1) in the Final_Eligibility field.  KOBD would not explicitly fund served (2) locations.
Public Comment Dates

Volume 1: The public comment period was open for thirty (30) days and was extended to 5:00 p.m. (CT) September 5, 2023.

Volume 2: The public comment period will be open for thirty (30) days and closed on November 12, 2023.

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
Volume 1 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
Volume 2 Public Comments Received

Volume 2 Public Comments

Comment NumberNameOrganization Represented (as applicable)Documented Comment
1Michael SperryLink to PDF
2Jill KuehnyKanOklaLink to PDF
3Jill JuehnyLink to PDF
4Friday OtuyaLink to PDF
5Friday OtuyaNex-TechLink to PDF
6Randy HoffmanWheat State TechnologiesLink to PDF
7Brian ThreadgoldLink to PDF
8Justin StegemanLink to PDF
9Mike ReganTelecommunications Industry Assocation Link to PDF
10Erin WaitzUScellularLink to PDF
11B Lynn FollansbeeUSTelecom – The Broadband AssocationLink to PDF
12Pamela SherwoodConnect Holding II LLC d/b/a/BrightspeedLink to PDF
13Gabriel MoranTarana Wireless, IncLink to PDF
14Stephen DuerstKansas Cable Telecommunications Association Link to PDF
15Carlee ParkerIdeaTekLink to PDF
16Randall SandoneCritical Infrastructure Resilience Institute – University of IllinoisLink to PDF
17Benjamin AronCTIA – The Wireless AssociationLink to PDF
18Jenny MillerEducationSuperhighwayLink to PDF
19Leslie ScottKC Digital DriveLink to PDF & Link to Supporting Document
20Lori AdamsNokiaLink to PDF
21Doug AdamsThinkLink to PDF
22Jim JamisonAT&TLink to PDF and Link to Additional Document
23Andrew MincheffINCOMPASLink to PDF
Contact Us

Initial Proposal Volume 1

The document adheres to NTIA guidelines and includes a description of each requirement along with attachments, available for public inspection and comments.

KOBD used 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 can be found below addresses other NTIA requirements such as the subgrantee selection process. You can learn more from this Notice of Funding Opportunity.

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 by clicking the button below.

Initial Proposal Volume 2

KOBD encouraged residents, community organizations, businesses, and local authorities, to participate in the public comment period for Volume 2 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.

Volume 2 outlines defined objectives for broadband infrastructure projects, transparent subgrantee selection processes and the active participation of eligible entities, all aimed at providing affordable broadband service options to residents.

Additional components of Volume 2 include:

  • Plans for equipping the workforce with the necessary skills and resources to support broadband infrastructure development.
  • Initiatives to promote the inclusion of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) in broadband projects.
  • Strategies for identifying and mitigating cost-related barriers to broadband deployment.
  • Consideration of the environmental impact of broadband projects and efforts to minimize their carbon footprint.
  • An outline of the regulatory approach to be taken by eligible entities in support of broadband infrastructure development.

You can learn more from this Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Volume 2 Attachments

“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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