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STEP 1:
STEP 2:
STEP 3:
STEP 4:
Technical Assistance Program (TAP)
The Broadband Development Office (BDO) has established TAP to provide additional resources to communities that need help addressing their local digital divide. Authorized by the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, TAP seeks to aid local governments and communities by providing assistance to identify local broadband development opportunities and prepare for forthcoming state and federal funds.
The following services are available to participating counties:
- Stakeholder identification and outreach.
- Asset mapping.
- Gap analysis/community needs identification.
- Public-private partnership identification and analysis.
- Workforce development strategy.
- Digital opportunities strategy/needs identification.
- Network design assessments.
All Texas counties that lack the necessary capacity for broadband planning are eligible to participate. Only the committee leaders of a county’s Broadband Planning Committee, as verified by the committee’s certification with the BDO, are eligible to apply. Participants accepted into the program will be allowed direct access to broadband planning and consulting services at no cost.
TAP participants will not receive funds from the program, nor are they guaranteed future funding in other state or federal grant programs. All services are paid for directly by the BDO. Participation in TAP does not include any grant writing services, either directly or through consulting.
Counties that participate in TAP will exit the program with a County Broadband Plan that provides:
- A comprehensive summary of the services performed in the participating county.
- Access to all relevant data and resource materials developed during the program.
- Actionable steps that participating counties can take to achieve their broadband goals.
For a brief summary of each service, see the TAP presentation (PPTX).
STEP 1:
CERTIFY YOUR COMMITTEE
- Only the committee leaders of BDO-certified Broadband Planning Committees may apply to TAP.
- To become certified, Broadband Planning Committee leaders must submit a Broadband Planning Committee Certification Form to the BDO.
STEP 2:
APPLY TO TAP
- The application window will open late spring 2024.
- Committee leaders must submit their county’s application, which will be made available to submit here .
- Applicants must provide identifying information and a short narrative response (500 words maximum).
- Only one committee’s application may be selected to participate in TAP on behalf of any individual county in need of technical assistance.
- Applicants selected to participate in TAP will be notified directly of their opportunity to participate.
STEP 3:
PLAN AND PARTICIPATE
- Counties selected to participate in TAP will be assigned to a team of contracted broadband planning and consulting specialists from Cobb, Fendley and Associates.
- The CobbFendley Team will collaborate with the participating Broadband Planning Committee to identify which services are necessary to achieve the county’s broadband goals.
- Services that are selected will be performed by the CobbFendley Team, in collaboration with the local guidance and support of the participating Broadband Planning Committee and/or stakeholders.
- Supporting the CobbFendley Team may look like:
- Facilitating as a local point-of-contact.
- Representing the local interests and goals of the county.
- Facilitating community outreach through localized public communication channels.
- Providing local insight or information access to any extent necessary and possible.
- Providing approval of the local County Broadband Plan.
- Attending the presentation of the county’s plan to the BDO.
STEP 4:
TAKE ACTION
- Committees that successfully complete TAP will develop a greater understanding of how to bridge the digital divide within their county.
- Participating counties are encouraged to incorporate the actionable items and resources identified by TAP into their planning and organizing efforts to achieve local community broadband goals.
- Each Community Broadband Plan that is produced by TAP will be made publicly available to maximize sharing of information, ideas, plans and opportunities currently taking place across the state.
RESOURCES
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