SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION THURSDAY. DECEMBER 4TH, 2025 AT 6:30PM AUSTIN CITY HALL, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 301 W 2ND ST AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Technology 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 via 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 by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Dan Martinez at (512)974-3510 or dan.martinez@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Steven Apodaca, Chair Ibiye Anga Nicholas Eastwood Suzanna Heritage Milena Pribic Brian AM Williams AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carina Alderete, Vice Chair Benjamin Combee Rachel Frock Keith Pena-Villa Thomas Rice The first ten speakers signed up to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Technology Commission Regular meeting on October 8th, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. Presentation by AT&T on their affordable home internet programs (Paige Johnson, AT&T) Presentation by Charter on their affordable home internet programs (Ned Munoz, Charter Communications) 4. 5. 6. 7. Presentation by Dr. Sharon Strover on data insights and findings from their latest report on public surveillance. (Dr. Sharon Strover, Director of the Technology and Information Policy Institute, Moody School of Communications at UT Austin) Presentation from the Travis County Amateur Radio Emergency Service on local radio management and emergency response (Glenn Meter, Emergency Coordinator, Travis Country Amateur Radio Emergency Services) Presentation from Digital Lift on their digital equity train the trainer program (Kami Griffiths, Executive Director, DigitalLIFT) Update on commission sunsetting review report from the Audit and Finance Committee (Steven Apodaca, Chair, Technology Commission) WORKING GROUP UPDATE 8. 9. Planning updates from the Artificial Intelligence & Public Surveillance working group on their discussion with AI stakeholders and resulting actions from the group’s recommendation Update from the town hall listening session working group regarding their planning meeting with the district 2 and 3 offices. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications …
Boards & Commissions Report Technology Commission October 15, 2025 Resolution 20241212-133 directed the City Manager, in coordination with the City Clerk’s Office, to establish a sunset review process for governance bodies, enabling regular and staggered evaluations of their scope and duties. An initial framework update was presented to the Audit and Finance Committee on February 19, 2025, after which the Committee instructed staff to finalize a consistent and transparent review model. A proposed framework was formally introduced on July 16, 2025, and the Committee approved a pilot implementation, requesting preliminary findings by October 15, 2025. This report summarizes the pilot's results, including an overview of the body under review, legal considerations, self-evaluations by members and staff liaisons, community feedback, and an initial staff recommendation. Technology Commission Report Highlights October 15, 2025 Executive Summary Objective To conduct an evaluation of the scope and duties of the Technology Commission using a predetermined multi-step framework. What We Found In its capacity to review and make recommendations to the City Council on technology and telecommunication issues, including equity, access, performance, affordability, and allocation of resources, the Commission met routinely in 2025. They made seven formal recommendations that they identified as closely aligned to the Commission's core mission. The Commission held public hearings on August 13 and September 10, 2025, to solicit feedback from the public and community stakeholders regarding the usefulness and relevance of the Technology Commission's stated purposes and duties and its success in fulfilling those purposes and duties. They had a total of eight members of the public register to provide feedback in person. Several speakers were former commissioners sharing historical perspectives on the Commission. Additionally, there were leaders from technology nonprofits and advocacy groups who provided expert testimony, reinforcing alignment with the 2023 Digital Needs Assessment. The Chair noted this “participation underscores the Commission’s unique role in connecting City policy, community priorities, and technology equity.” The Technology Commission does not have any legal mandates or statutory obligations that would prevent modifications or changes in the purpose and function of the body. What We Recommend The Technology Commission routinely meets, maintains membership, and acts in accordance with their Council directives and bylaws. We recommend the Commission continue as directed. IA Austin Technology Commission 2 City Manager's Office | City Clerk's Office Technology Commission Mandate § 2-1-107 - The Commission shall advise the City Council regarding issues that include: (1) community technology; (2) …
Technology Commission Meeting Empowering Opportunity OUR NATIONAL IMPACT Charter is a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator providing superior high-speed internet, video, mobile, and voice services under the brand name Spectrum to more than 31 million customers across 41 states. We’re driving innovation and growing economies from coast to coast and in communities big and small. From 2020-2024 alone, Charter invested nearly $47 billion in infrastructure and technology – contributing significantly to the U.S. economy. All data as of December 31, 2024, unless otherwise noted.. NEARLY 57M MORE THAN 31M HOMES PASSED ACROSS 41 STATES BROADBAND INTERNET CUSTOMERS MORE THAN APPROXIMATELY 900,000 MILES OF NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE 95,000 EMPLOYEES NEARLY $47B INVESTED IN U.S. INFRASTRUCTURE & TECHNOLOGY 2020-2024 NEARLY 500M IP DEVICES CONNECTED TO OUR NETWORK Empowering Opportunity in Texas OUR IMPACT IN TEXAS Nearly 3.5 Million Customers Served Nearly 1.1 Million Mobile Lines 15,700 Employees $328 Million Paid in Taxes & Fees in 2024* Nearly $1.8 Billion 2024 Capital Investment* We have more employees in Texas than in any other state. Our 100% U.S.-based workforce includes 15,700 people in Texas. We have large employment centers (500+ employees) in: • Austin • Coppell • Dallas • El Paso • Harlingen Irving • • McAllen • Pharr • San Antonio Expanding Access Unbiased Local News In 2024 alone, Charter extended its network to reach and additional 336,000 homes and businesses in Texas, including 57,000 new locations reached through our rural construction initiative. Spectrum News 1 Texas and the Spectrum News App provide 24/7 news, political, sports, and weather coverage as well as In Focus public affairs programming. Spectrum News is ranked consistently among the country’s most unbiased media outlets. All data as of December 31, 2024, unless otherwise noted. | *1/1/24 – 12/31/24 Superior Products & Services OUR PRODUCTS & SERVICES Spectrum Internet Spectrum’s hybrid fiber network delivers gigabit speeds and reliable service with no contracts, no modem fees, and no data caps. Spectrum Voice Spectrum Voice offers unlimited calling to the U.S. and its territories, Canada, and Mexico. Spectrum Mobile Spectrum Mobile’s approximately 10 million mobile lines deliver fast, affordable, and reliable mobile service– including nationwide 5G with no extra fees. Spectrum TV Spectrum offers cable and streaming video packages to meet different viewing preferences and budgetary needs. Customers who subscribe to a traditional cable package can receive programmers’ direct-to-consumer apps at no additional cost, a value up to $80 …
Local Radio Support for Emergency Communications Glenn Meter W5MTR Emergency Coordinator Travis County ARES 12/4/2025 AGENDA • Local Amateur Radio Emergency Service Organizations • Served Agencies • Why Amateur Radio • Local Infrastructure • Request: spread awareness • Greater Austin/Travis County Regional Radio System Amateur Radio Organizations • Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) • Serve non-government agencies • Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) • Government continuity • Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) • Support Department of Defense • All citizen volunteers • Many operators ”wear multiple hats” • Train on national Incident Command System (ICS) ICS used to coordinate response across multiple agencies • • Response escalates as needed: Local -> County -> Region -> State -> National • Communications falls under Logistics section • We connect people in the field with the command post • Activate when called. No self-deployments. ARES Served Agencies • Travis County: • Emergency response communications • National Weather Service: • SKYWARN (weather) nets (“ground truth”) • Military: • Critical Infrastructure (w/MARS) • Capital Area of Texas Regional Advisory Council (CATRAC): • Hospital emergency comms • Red Cross & Austin Disaster Relief Network: • Shelter, response communications • National Multiple Sclerosis Society • MS-150 (Houston & Austin -> LaGrange -> College Station) • Ride to the River (San Antonio) • Austin Runner’s Club • Decker Challenge Why amateur radio • Amateur radios work without • Internet • Phones • Comms include • Voice • Data (e-mail, forms) • “Party line” (one to many) • Monitor the event, self-regulate the flow of information: • Hold “regular” traffic for “priority” and “emergency” traffic • Inter-operable: • By law, amateur radio cannot be encrypted • Anyone with an amateur radio (and license) can communicate with each other (* with band support, etc.) Why amateur radio • When cell phone and satellite communications keep improving • Comms stay up during SXSW, ACL, F1, etc. • Cells on wheels (COWs) deployed more quickly after disasters • Snowpocalypse: lost power for a week, still had cell service • Cell phones: • Cell phone service not as reliable outside of urban areas, major highways • Starlink: • Requires terrestrial internet to reach the ground stations • Each satellite covers ~10 mile radius • Urban areas can get congested/overloaded during land-based internet outages • Performance degrades in bad weather WHEN – “When all else fails” • Accidents • Backhoes and cables are …
Building Digital Access Through Capacity & Connection Strengthening Communities via Collaboration, Training, & Resources Prepared for the Austin Technology Commission 12/4/2025 About digitalLIFT (formerly Community Tech Network) VISION A world where people are empowered to use technology to thrive in connected communities. MISSION Our mission is to provide essential training and resources to communities impacted by the digital divide. History of digitalLIFT ▪ Established in 2008 as a nonprofit in San Francisco and expanded to Central Texas in 2017 ▪ Focused solely on digital inclusion ▪ Programs and services include: • Basic/intermediate digital literacy training for low-income adults of all ages • Develop curriculum specifically for adult learners • Training for trainers and managers • Program set-up and management support ▪ Training and curriculum offered in 10+ languages: • English, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese dialects), Spanish, Tagalog, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Russian, Burmese, Farsi and Vietnamese Our Legacy of Impact digitalLIFT is making a difference, one partnership at a time. More than 92,709 hours of training delivered Over 200 partner organizations served nationwide 6,475+ devices distributed 15,000+ learners supported The LIFT Model in Texas Partnering With Purpose, Powered By Community Texas Partners Workforce & Capacity Building Training Pathways Managers Digital Navigators Classroom Trainers Multilingual Curriculum & Workshops ● 10+ languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Russian, et al ○ Accessible formats & culturally adapted ○ Basic digital skills curriculum is available for Android, Apple, Chromebooks and Windows in a range of languages. ● Customized vs Licensed ○ digitalLIFT can develop customized curriculum for use with the agency's designated device and programmatic needs. ○ Translation services are available. ● Classroom, 1:1, Workshops (Virtual/Hybrid/In person) ○ Workshop themes: Core Skills, Telehealth, Jobs, Cybersecurity, Everyday Tasks. ● Train-the-Trainer courses on adult learning principles and instructional techniques ● Manager-focused courses on supervising Digital Navigators, managing volunteers, assessing community needs, strategy and program design, program planning, and program outreach and implementation ● Specialized modules on Digital Equity and Aging, Libraries, Healthcare, and Accessing Public Benefits ● Free courses: ○ Digital Navigator Overview ○ Teaching Internet Safety Free Resources ● Digital Equity 101 - eBook ● Digital Navigator Overview - Course ● Teaching Internet Safety & Responsibility - Course ● Internet Safety - Classroom Curriculum English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog ● Lunch & Learn Webinar Series - Monthly ● Day of Equity Webinar Series - 9 Oct 25 ● Playlist of past webinars The Community Voice What Our Partners Are …
