Approved Minutes — original pdf
Approved Minutes
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION http://www.austintexas.gov/cttc MINUTES Regular Meeting Wednesday – February 10, 2021 – 6:30 PM VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING 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 Vacant ‐ Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza, District 2 Malcolm Yeatts ‐ Council Member Sabino “Pio” Renteria, District 3 David Alexander ‐ Council Member Gregorio Casar, District 4 Dave Floyd ‐ Council Member Ann Kitchen, District 5 Irfan Syed ‐ Council Member Jimmy Flannigan, District 6 Vacant ‐ Council Member Leslie Pool, District 7 Vacant ‐ 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 Malcolm Yeatts David Alexander Dave Floyd Michelle Reinhardt Nicole Thompson Sumit DasGupta Unexcused Absence Sophie Gairo Irfan Syed CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order at 6:40 PM CITIZEN 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 – January 13, 2020 Motion to approve the January 13th minutes made by Commissioner DasGupta, seconded by Commissioner Yeatts, failed on a vote of 5-0-1. 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. TARA Office Briefing on GTOPs Grant Reviewers, Increasing Broadband Access, and GTOPs Mini (John Speirs, Program Manager – Telecom & Regulatory Affairs) The presentation by John Speirs can be viewed here. 3. NEW BUSINESS (Discussion and Possible Action) a. Grant for Technology Opportunities Program – Selection of the Grant Review Panel (Commission Discussion and Action, Jesse Rodriguez, Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs) After two rounds of voting, a panel was agreed upon. Motion to appoint applicants 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11 to the GTOPs 2021 grant review panel made by Chair Pitts and seconded by Commissioner DasGupta passed on a vote of 6-0. Motion to approve applicant Ex 1 as an ex officio participant in the GTOPs 2021 grant review panel made by Chair Pitts and seconded by Commissioner DasGupta passed on a vote of 6-0. b. FY 22 Budget Recommendations (Commission Discussion and Possible Action) The commissioners discussed priorities of remote participation at commission meetings, tablature of Council vote records, funding for Grant for Technology Opportunities Program and Zoom licenses for use at the Public Libraries and all public facilities. Motion to recommend an additional $1,500 for the Grant for Technology Opportunities Program to support incentives for the volunteer review panel made by Commissioner DasGupta and seconded by Commissioner Yeatts passed on a vote of 6-0. 4. COMMISSION UPDATES (Discussion and Possible Action) a. Digital Inclusion, Civic Engagement, and Strategic Technology and Telecom Policy Working Group Chair Pitts noted the appointment of the GTOPs grant review panel and the presentation by John Speirs on the Connection Test ATX internet speed testing initiative. He also met with the Greater Austin STEM Ecosystem and promised to provide them with the latest info from the Residential Technology Study. b. Knowledge, Information, and Data Stewardship Working Group Commissioner Alexander noted the discussion around scheduling a regular time for this group to meet. c. Technology, Infrastructure, and Innovation Working Group Commissioner Floyd and Commissioner DasGupta noted the difficulties that are being posed by the COVID vaccination effort. Chair Pitts noted that he would be contacting Austin Public Health and Communications and Technology Management on the status of the website improvements, especially as it relates to the budget recommendation that this commission proposed to support this effort. Commissioner DasGupta also noted the onboard of Digital Inclusion Fellow Khotan Harmon, who will be performing research around increasing access to broadband. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Continuation of budget discussions ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn made by Commissioner DasGupta and seconded by Commissioner Floyd passed on a vote of 6-0. 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 before the meeting date. Please contact Jesse Rodriguez at the Office of Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs at (512) 974‐7676, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission, please visit their website at http://www.austintexas.gov/cttc or contact Jesse Rodriguez at jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov. Posting Submitted by: Jesse Rodriguez, Business Process Specialist, Wednesday, March 1, 2021