COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Regular Meeting Wednesday – March 9, 2022 – 6:30 PM City Hall – Boards and Commissions - Room 1101 301 W. 2nd Street - Austin, TX 78701 Some members of the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register, contact Jesse Rodriguez at jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Nehemiah Pitts III, Chair Steven Apodaca Dave Floyd Jennifer Ramos Sumit DasGupta Sophie Gairo Malcolm Yeatts Maxine Eiland Nicole Thompson AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 9, 2022 2. STAFF AND COMMUNITY BRIEFINGS (A member of the public may not address a board at a meeting on an item posted as a briefing) a. FY 2021 Residential Technology Study: Qualitative Analysis of the Digital Divide in Austin by MEASURE Austin (Paulette Blanc, Meme Styles, and Reyda Taylor) b. Update from Communications and Technology Management Department (Chris Stewart, Chief Information Officer) c. Austin Free-Net: Update on Digital Literacy Training, Digital Navigation, Device Donation, and Future Planning (Jess Ross, Executive Director of Austin Free-Net) 3. NEW BUSINESS (Discussion and Possible Action) a. Commission Discussion on FY 2023 Budget Priorities (Commission discussion and possible action) Working Group 4. COMMISSION UPDATES (Discussion and Possible Action) a. Digital Inclusion, Civic Engagement, and Strategic Technology and Telecom Policy b. Knowledge, Information, and Data Stewardship Working Group c. Technology, Infrastructure, and Innovation Working Group FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Jesse Rodriguez at the Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs Department, at jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov for additional information; TTY users route …
ADDRESSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN AUSTIN: RESIDENTIALTECHNOLOGY STUDY P R E S E N T E D B Y : M E M E S T Y L E S , M P A , D E I F O U N D E R & P R E S I D E N T P A U L E T T E B L A N C , M P H F O U N D E R & C H I E F O F R E S E A R C H R E Y D A T A Y L O R , P H D What We Do At MEASURE MEASURE works to use data and education to mobilize communities to fight structural racism and eliminate social disparities. Through our CARE Model process and other tools, we ensure communities and institutions embrace lived-experience data of Powerful Black, Brown and Multiracial/Ethnic Communities to deconstruct underlying narratives and work together to find equitable solutions. Learn more at www.wemeasure.org Problem We Are Solving Lived-experience and quantitative data about complex social problems impacting Powerful Black, Brown and Multiracial/Ethnic Communities are not used effectively for justice due to racism, a lack of equitable data tools and village support. Our Theory Of Change IF we support Powerful Black, Brown and Multiracial/Ethnic Communities by providing free data support, training and work to cultivate community power-building to fight structural racism, THEN Powerful Black, Brown and Multiracial/Ethnic Communities will be equipped to use data to mobilize and eliminate social disparities ultimately resulting in a world free of health, education, justice and economic inequities. Our Anti-Racist Data Support Tools MEASURE CARE Model Equity Focus Group Tool Community Survey Design Tool Community Impact Metrics Tool This 3-6 month partnership Build highly-specific, lived Gather insights to take action Identify the long-term with a MEASURE facilitator will experience feedback from with a professionally designed intended impacts and result in a clear understanding community members with lived survey for your stakeholders and plan of how your solution experience through our equity with an equitable lens. aims to support your community. focus groups. measurable short-term outcomes to effectively address the issue you’re seeking to change. H I G H L I G H T E D E F G P R O J E C T S BUILDING EQUITY IN THE AUSTIN CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS CHILDREN'S OPTIMAL HEALTH IT'S TIME …
JANUARY 2022 A D D R E S S I N G T H E D I G I T A L D I V I D E I N A U S T I N : R E S I D E N T I A L T E C H N O L O G Y S T U D Y Paulette Blanc, MPH | Urenna Onyewuchi, PhD | Reyda Taylor, PhD | A L I V E D - E X P E R I E N C E B L A C K P A P E R A B O U T M E A S U R E MEASURE is a research and public education organization led by Black women and dedicated to using data and technology to pursue community-defined goals. Since its founding in 2015, MEASURE has provided over 3014 hours of free antiracist evaluation support to our community to increase their access to and use of data. MEASURE believes that, when used strategically, data provides a common language upon which community members can meet and increase their knowledge about the causes and work together to create equitable change and increase awareness. A B O U T C I T Y O F A U S T I N T H E O F F I C E O F T E L E C O M M U N I C A T I O N S & R E G U L A T O R Y A F F A I R S ( T A R A ) The Office of Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs (TARA) provides consumer protection through regulatory oversight, access to information and communications technology resources and infrastructure, and generates revenue to support City services (1,2). One of TARA's activities is to promote digital inclusion through access to information and communications technology and trainings. C I T Y O F A U S T I N ' S R E S I D E N T I A L T E C H N O L O G Y S T U D Y The Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) Residential Technology Study is building off of previous efforts that began in 1998 to understand residents' sentiments around the internet (3). The FY21 study’s goal is to gain a greater understanding of digital inclusion in Austin, particularly …
AUTHORS Urenna Onyewuchi, PhD, Paulette Blanc, MPH, Reyda Taylor,PhD REFERENCES See page 2 REDLINING DE-SEGREGATION OF SCHOOLS SILICON HILLS DIGITIAL INCLUSION PROGRAMS COVID-19 PANDEMIC DIGITAL INEQUITY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS UNPACKING THE HISTORY OF INJUSTICE 1928 MASTER PLAN CREATED The 1928 Master Plan created a "Negro District" which required all Black Austinites to move to East Austin. This plan evolved into the segregation of the Hispanic/Latino community as well (2). Public policies like the National Housing Act of 1934, which established and reinforced housing segregation (also known as "redlining"), have contributed to unequal opportunities and have marginalized certain groups of people (3). The echoes of this policy still influence our cityscapes. With educational funding tied to property. taxes, and in extension the value of the housing in a neighborhood, redlining still contributes to the systematic denial of resources to Black and poor neighborhoods. 1934 FREEDMAN COMMUNITIES Juneteenth, June 19, 1865 marked Black emancipation from slavery. An 1865 City Council meeting called for extreme policing and punishing of “idle” Black people (1).; anti-Black violence was praised. During this time Freedman communities in Austin were established (1). 1865 2000s SOCIAL MEDIA Modern social media emerges and quickly becomes a means for sharing information, making connections, and news updates. (11). Notably during the 2021 Winter Storm Uri many resources were being shared via social media and people without digital access were at a disadvantage. 1953 UNDER-REPRESENTATION 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS In 1953, Austin adopted a model for city council based on "at large" positions, limiting place-based representation (4). In subsequent years "The Gentlemen's Agreement" was adopted. These systems prevented non-White groups from being able to win elections to the City Council. The Civil Rights Act was the second to the last act that threw out Jim Crow laws. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 dealt a crucial blow to discrimination in the workforce by making it illegal for any business, private or public, to practice discriminatory hiring (and firing) practices (9). Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1954 decision in Brown vs. Board of Education, the AISD Board of Trustees originally adopted a policy of integration (5). Austin started as a high-tech hub in the '80s, and was known as “Silicon Hills.” The initial tech industries hosted in Austin included semiconductor (AMD, Samsung, Motorola/Freescale/NXP, Applied Materials), enterprise software (IBM, Trilogy, Tivoli, National Instruments) and computer hardware (Dell, IBM, Apple) (10). The Clinton administration began plans for …
a c c e s s i s p o w e r 2022 updates agenda 01 02 03 04 05 06 Overview Digital Literacy Training New Programs Current State of Affairs Future Planning Closing overview UNDERSTANDING THE LEGACY 26+ years of history in Austin Pioneering women in leadership roles A trusted resource for the community A champion for underserved populations Ana Sisnett on the cover of Austin Chronicle for Austin Free-Net, 2003 "Part of why we do what we do is to teach people about the pervasiveness of the technology, how it's in their lives whether they want it or not." - Ana Sisnett "Looking To The Future" Austin Chronicle, 2001 Partners and sponsors overview TURNING A NEW LEAF Update the organization, honor the legacy Evolve with technology and the needs of our community Focus on our strengths Reach 3,000 community members digital literacy training Community needs during Pandemic Device acquisition Access Remote Learning AFN services through Pandemic Over 300 devices donated to AISD Senior Tech Program Remote learning Computer Lab Access . . Staff member, John Fierro, gets devices ready for AISD Digital Inclusion week 2021 Assisted COA with the DIW Art Poster Contest Created Digital Inclusion PSAs in partnership with Austin Public . Digital Inclusion week 2021 Hosted two panels with popular digital inclusion topics and panelist . Digital Inclusion week 2021 Hosted two panels with popular digital inclusion topics and panelist . digital literacy training Post Pandemic Planning Transition into remote, onsite and hybrid instruction Updated classes and workshops to reflect community interest and needs New programs to meet community needs and incentivize participation Return to Community Partner sites Add new partner sites New and Updated Classes and Workshops 2022 first quarter Google Suite Class - An introduction to Google Suite web applications like Gmail, Google Docs, and the Google Drive. Organize it, Online! - Fundamentals of digital productivity tools including digital calendars, Google tasks, Microsoft tasks, and more. Microsoft Office Class - An overview of all things Microsoft Office, like Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint. City of Austin Resources - An introduction to resources provided by the City of Austin for Austin residents. You've Got Mail! Digital Dating 101 - Learn all about love online. Online dating, dating applications, and navigating online dating world safely. Rapid Retrain Guide for Veterans - A brief introduction to veteran benefit applications, veteran employment opportunities and the Veteran's Rapid …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATON NUMBER: 20220309-3a1 REGARDING: Increasing City Support of Digital Literacy Training with Austin Free-Net WHEREAS, digital literacy training is a necessary City service to ensure members of the public can equitably access online City resources; WHEREAS, COVID-19 has closed many in-person service options and made in-person contact inherently more risky; WHEREAS, the current labor market is particularly challenging for non-profit organizations; WHEREAS, the current City contractor for provision of digital literacy training services has requested an increase in the City funding in order to be able to hire qualified staff and support robust service delivery; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission recommends that the City contract with Austin Free-Net providing digital literacy training services be increased from $198,000 annually to $298,000 annually. Date of Approval: March 9, 2022 Record of the vote: Motion to recommend $100,000 in additional funding for Austin Free-Net made by Commissioner Dasgupta, seconded by Chair Pitts, passed on a vote of 7-0. ATTEST: ___________________________________ Jesse Rodriguez City of Austin Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATON NUMBER: 20220309-3a2 REGARDING: Producer Workforce Development WHEREAS, investment in producer training for underserved segments of the community is needed to ensure equitable access to the creative economy; WHEREAS, Austin Film Society won the contract with the City to provide producer workforce development training, distribution of local content over public cable channels, and maintenance of the public access television facility; WHEREAS, Austin Film Society’s final best offer was for $925,000 annually, but the City was only able to offer $875,000 annually (leaving a $50,000 gap in year one); WHEREAS, $400,000 of that $875,000 was only secured with federal grant funds for one year, leaving a $450,000 gap for year two; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission recommends that the City allocate $450,000 to support producer workforce training by Austin Film Society. Date of Approval: March 9, 2022 Record of the vote: Motion to recommend $450,000 to support the Austin Film Society’s Producer Workforce development program made by Commissioner Apodaca, seconded by Commissioner DasGupta, passed on a vote of 7-0 ATTEST: ___________________________________ Jesse Rodriguez City of Austin Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATON NUMBER: 20220309-3a3 REGARDING: Community Technology Interns WHEREAS, the City began, in late 2019, a pilot program to refurbish retired City computers and make them available for public benefit via distribution to community non-profits; WHEREAS, that pilot program is now established as formal service offered by the City named The Community PC Program and has deployed over 1,743 devices since inception; WHEREAS, the Community PC Program processes over 500 devices annually, on average; WHEREAS, the Community PC Program is poised to increase the number of devices made available to the community every year by seeking private sector device donations, which would proportionally increase the amount of staff needed to refurbish the devices and administratively support the program; WHEREAS, administrative and technology interns would allow the Community PC Program to provide more IT support to device recipients; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission recommends that the City allocate sufficient funds to support a technical intern and an administrative intern to support the Community Technology division of Financial Services Department. Date of Approval: March 9, 2022 Record of the vote: Motion to recommend funding for two interns at $15 and $20 dollars per hour to support the Community Technology unit of Financial Services Department made by Chair Pitts, seconded by Commissioner Eiland passed on a vote of 7-0. ATTEST: ___________________________________ Jesse Rodriguez City of Austin Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION http://www.austintexas.gov/cttc MINUTES Regular Meeting Wednesday – March 9, 2022 – 6:30 PM City Hall – Boards and Commissions ‐ Room 1101 301 W. 2nd Street ‐ Austin, TX 78701 Please go to http://www.austintexas.gov/cityclerk/boards_commissions/meetings/10_1.htm for backup material associated with this agenda. All ATXN (City Channel 6) programming is cablecast on Spectrum, Grande Communications, and Google Fiber on their cable channel 6, on AT&T U‐ Verse Channel 99 and webcast online. Over 20 meetings per month, including this commission meeting, are available on demand online, typically within a few hours of the cablecast. Schedules and video can be found at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/atxn-video-archive. CURRENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: Sophie Gairo ‐ Mayor Steve Adler Nehemiah Pitts III ‐ Council Member Natasha Harper‐Madison, District 1 Steven Apodaca – Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, District 2 Malcolm Yeatts ‐ Council Member Sabino “Pio” Renteria, District 3 Vacant ‐ Council Member Gregorio Casar, District 4 Dave Floyd ‐ Council Member Ann Kitchen, District 5 Vacant ‐ Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, District 6 Maxine Eiland ‐ Council Member Leslie Pool, District 7 Jennifer Ramos ‐ Council Member Paige Ellis, District 8 Nicole Thompson – Council Member Kathie Tovo, District 9 Sumit DasGupta ‐ Council Member Alison Alter, District 10 Commission Members Present Nehemiah Pitts III Commission Members Attending Remotely Steven Apodaca Malcolm Yeatts Dave Floyd Maxine Eiland Nicole Thompson Sumit DasGupta Unexcused Absence Jennifer Ramos Sophie Gairo CALL TO ORDER Meeting Called to order at 6:38 pm. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. No members of the public signed up to speak. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 9, 2022 Motion to approve the February 9th meeting minutes made by Commissioner DasGupta, seconded by Commissioner Thompson passed on a vote of 8-0. 2. STAFF AND COMMUNITY BRIEFINGS (A member of the public may not address a board at a meeting on an item posted as a briefing) a. FY 2021 Residential Technology Study: Qualitative Analysis of the Digital Divide in Austin by MEASURE Austin (Paulette Blanc, Meme Styles, and Reyda Taylor) The Presentation by MEASURE Austin can be viewed here: https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=378693 The draft report by MEASURE can be viewed here: https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=378696 The timeline of historical inequities by MEASURE can be viewed here: https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=378694 b. Update …
