Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

few hours of the cablecast. Schedules and video can be Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission http://www.austintexas.gov/cttc SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES Tuesday –March 26th, 2023 – 6:30PM Permitting and Development Center – Event Center – Room 1405 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr – Austin TX 78752 Please go to http://www.austintexas.gov/cityclerk/boards_commissions/meetings/10_1.htm for backup materials 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 found at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/atxn-video-archive. The Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission convened in a SPECAIL CALLED meeting on Tuesday, March 26th, 2024, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr. in Austin, Texas. Current Commission Members Keith Pena Villa ‐ Mayor Kirk Watson Nehemiah Pitts III ‐ Council Member Natasha Harper‐Madison, District 1 Steven Apodaca – Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, District 2 Carina Alderete ‐ Council Member José Velásquez, District 3 Vacant ‐ Council Member José “Chito” Vela, District 4 Thomas Rice‐ Council Member Ryan Alter, District 5 Gabriel Nwajiaku‐ Council Member Mackenzie Kelly,District 6 Maxine Eiland ‐ Council Member Leslie Pool, District 7 Vacant ‐ Council Member Paige Ellis, District 8 Vacant – Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri, District 9 Sumit DasGupta ‐ Council Member Alison Alter, District 10 Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Nehemiah Pitts III, Chair Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Steven Apodaca, Vice Chair Sumit DasGupta 1 Keith Pena Villa Maxine Eliand Thomas Rice Gabriel Nwajiaku Carina Alderete CALL TO ORDER Chair Pitts called the Community Technology and Telecommunications Meeting to order at 6:41 p.m. 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 were signed up to speak. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission Regular meeting on December 13th, 2023. Motion to approve the minutes made by Vice Chair Apodaca and seconded by Commissioner Alderete. The minutes from (12/13/2023) were approved on a vote of 7- 0. Approve the minutes of the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission Regular meeting on January 11th, 2024. Motion to approve the minutes made by Commissioner Alderete and seconded by Vice Chair Apodaca. The minutes from (1/11/2024) were approved on a vote of 7-0. STAFF BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS TARA Office briefing on the Request for Proposals for Community Technology Access Lab Management Services (Jesse Rodriguez – Program Manager, Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs Division of the Financial Services Department, City of Austin) The presentation on the CTAL RFP was delivered by Jesse Rodriguez and can be viewed at this link: https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/300951 “You’re Being Watched – AI & Surveillance in Public Places” Presentation (Sharon Strover – Director, Technology & Information Policy Institute, Phillip G. Warner Regents Professor of Communication, Moody College of Communications, University of Texas at Austin) This briefing had to be rescheduled to a later date. 1. 2. 3. 4. 2 Discussion Over Possible After Action Regarding the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan Comment Period Chair Pitts discussed follow-up actions for the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan, highlighting ongoing webinars and conference calls by ISLR and the Texas Broadband Development Office. Chair Pitts discussed the possibility of providing updates on the plan as a private citizen or through a briefing during working group discussions or at a forthcoming meeting. 6. Digital Inclusion Town Hall – University Hills (2/17/2024) Report out and discussion over possible follow up action. Chair Pitts summarized the Digital Inclusion Town Hall held at University Hills on February 17th, sponsored by US Ignite, Austin Public Library, and others, emphasizing the importance of direct community engagement. Participants voiced the need for better internet access, affordable devices, job training, and concerns over privacy. Those who facilitated the meeting shared various resources with the Town Hall participants. Recommendations from the public in attendance include expanding connectivity programs and investing in cybersecurity education. 7. Austin Community College Digital Inclusion Town Hall for Veterans & Military Families Planning Discussion Chair Pitts move the conversation towards planning for the upcoming Austin Community College Digital Inclusion Town Hall for Veterans and Military Families being planned in tandem with the Texas Veterans Commission. Chair Pitts emphasizes the need to connect with these individuals as they are a large portion of the local population that represents every other covered population. The event, initially planned for March 23rd, has been rescheduled for a date in May or June. The town hall aims to connect veterans with digital inclusion resources, potential employers, and emphasize cybersecurity, reflecting the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan's focus on community-specific solutions and partnerships. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 8. Finalize language for and approve FY25 budget recommendations The commission presented two recommendations, the first in support of a $500,000 budget for the Technology and Regulatory Affairs division’s Grant for Technology Opportunities Program. The second, was looking for $7,500 of financial support for three community town hall listening sessions and $5,000 in support for a digital inclusion stakeholder summit for 2024. Two votes were held to approve the individual recommendations. Both documents were combined into one budget recommendation. 5. 3 Motion to approve the FY25 budget recommendation 20240326-8a in support of additional Grant for Technology Opportunities Program funding made by Chair Pitts and seconded by Commissioner DasGupta. Passed on a vote of 8-0. Motion to approve the FY25 budget recommendation 20240326-8b in support of funding for three town hall listening sessions and a digital inclusion stakeholder summit made by Chair Pitts and seconded by Vice Chair Apodaca. Passed on a vote of 7-0. 9. Discussion over the Grant for Technology Opportunities Program and the appointment of the Ex Officio Chair role Chair Pitts covered the Grant for Technology Opportunities Program (GTOPs) and the need for an ex officio chair role appointment during the grant review process. Pitts mentions that his term is soon to end with an incoming new commissioner for District One. Chair Pitts emphasized the need for someone to step into the ex officio chair role due to the current chair reaching term limits. The conversation included the scheduling of GTOPs core review deliberation, the potential rescheduling of the review day, and the call for interest and availability from commission members to serve as the ex officio chair. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  AI & Surveillance in Public Places Presentation by Sharon Strover  GTOPs Application Selection Approval  Housing and Planning Department Presentation  Officer Elections ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn the meeting made by Vice Chair Apodaca and seconded by Commissioner DasGupta. Passed on a vote of 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:19pm. 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 Dan Martinez at the Office of Telecommunications & Regulatory  Affairs at (512) 974‐3510, 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 Dan Martinez at dan.martinez@austintexas.gov    The Minutes were approved at the May 8th, 2024 Meeting on Commissioner DasGuptas’s Motion and Chair Apodaca’s Second with a final vote of 6-0.   4