COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Regular Meeting Wednesday – December 8, 2021 – 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 CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Nehemiah Pitts III, Chair Steven Apodaca Dave Floyd Maxine Eiland Nicole Thompson Sophie Gairo Malcolm Yeatts Illiya Svirsky Jennifer Ramos Sumit DasGupta AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 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 – October 13, 2021 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. Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs update – Rondella Hawkins, TARA Officer, Financial Services Department b. HACA Mobile Hot Spot Speed & Connection Testing – Catherine Crago, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Housing Authority of the City of Austin & Austin Pathways, and Ashlee Johnson, ACC IT Intern c. Briefing on the Reliable and Affordable Broadband for All Project – Khotan Harmon, Leadership Austin Fellow 3. NEW BUSINESS (Discussion and Possible Action) a. Digital Inclusion Week Art Competition – Jesse Rodriguez, Interim Program Manager, Financial Services Department (discussion and possible action) b. Digital Equity and Inclusion Town Hall – Chair Nehemiah Pitts III (Commission discussion and possible action) c. Election of Officers – Vice Chair (Commission discussion and action) 4. COMMISSION UPDATES (Discussion and Possible Action) a. Digital Inclusion, Civic Engagement, and Strategic Technology and Telecom Policy Working Group 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 through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission, please contact Jesse …
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS Legislative and Regulatory Update – December 2021 Congress ➢ Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684): Signed by Pres. Biden; the broadband provisions include includes $65 billion for broadband-related projects and cybersecurity grants: Broadband Highlights: • $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program - available to states that apply for funds. Allocated to states by formula. • Deployment to unserved and underserved areas first then connecting eligible community anchor institutions • Data collection, broadband mapping, and planning • Provision of affordable broadband to multi-family residential building in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. • Broadband adoption (including providing affordable internet-capable devices) • $2.75 billion under the Digital Inclusion Act, which includes two new grant programs, the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program and Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, focused on digital inclusion. • $14.2 billion for the Affordable Connectivity Benefit Households via providers (see FCC below regarding rulemaking) • This is an extension of the temp. Emergency Broadband Benefit Program ($50/month which expires December 31, 2021), though with lower monthly subsidies. • Permanent program - $30/month subsidy for internet service for households up to 200% of poverty that qualify for other federal benefits (Nutrition, SSI, Veteran’s Pension, etc.). • $1 billion for middle mile infrastructure. ➢ $2 billion for USDA rural broadband construction programs (primarily ReConnect). ➢ $1 billion for DHS-run grant program to address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats to information systems owned or operated by, or on behalf of, State, local, or Tribal governments. ➢ Build Back Better Act (HR-5376): House-passed version includes $500 million for a new FTC data privacy and security bureau, $500 million for NTIA connected device vouchers, $490 million for next-generation 911 tech upgrades and $300 million for the FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund. ➢ Eliminating Barriers to Rural Internet Development Grant Eligibility Act (E-BRIDGE Act) (H.R. 3193) (S. 1695) : Passed House Nov. 4th; authorizes the Commerce Dept. to award economic development grants for public-private partnerships and certain consortiums for projects to provide, extend, expand, or improve broadband service through (1) planning, technical assistance, or training; (2) land acquisition or development; or (3) acquisition, construction, or improvement of facilities. ➢ Next Generation Telecommunications Act (S. 3014): Would establish a Next Generation Telecommunications Council to advise Congress on 6G advancements and other advanced wireless communications technologies; allocates $10 million to the Council, which would submit a report to Congress within one year. …
HACA & Austin Pathways Sneakernet Project June 7, 2021 - July 30, 2021 Presenter Catherine Crago Head of Strategic Initiatives HACA/Austin Pathways Authors Ashlee Johnson, ACC IT Intern Omar Tapia, ACC IT Intern Andrew Martinez, ACC IT Intern Spring-Fall 2020-2021 Team Members With Thanks to John Bratcher, T-Mobile James Mason, ACC IT Intern Khotan Harmon, ACC IT Intern Stan McClellan, Texas State University HACA & Austin Pathways Resident Smart City Ambassadors Background & Introduction ● HACA has 18 public subsidized housing properties spanning Austin from north to south across the eastern crescent. ● Is a single provider’s 4G hotspot the best product for all HACA properties and all parts of town? ● What are acceptable levels of service, using third-party definitions, for broadband speed in a HACA household, i.e. per multiple users using intensive applications simultaneously in a household? ● What is the cost of service both per household and per property for wireline vs. wireless broadband service? ● Does a resident at a given property get “$1 of wireless broadband” for a dollar spent? Our Scope ● One year 7-Week Project Staffed by co-lead by 2 and assisted by 4 part-time ACC IT Work Study Interns ● Three Phases. ○ Phase 1, July 30, Procurement Recommendation, Stakeholder Feedback ○ Phase 2 & 3, Vendor analysis ● Core activities, Phase 1: design of experiment, key map design and validation, data collection and validation, evaluation, stakeholder requirements feedback and synthesis ● Ten HACA Properties ○ 8 Central and North Properties with No In-Home Internet ○ 2 Central-Downtown Properties with Free Google Fiber Phase 1 Questions ● What is the right internet service to provide to each household at each property, given a conservative outdoor reading and better-than-average devices? ● Is a single provider’s 4G hotspot, is that product the best for all HACA properties and all parts of town? ● What are acceptable levels of service, using third-party definitions, for broadband speed in a HACA household, i.e. per multiple users using intensive applications simultaneously in a household? ● What is the cost of service both per household and per property for wireline vs. wireless broadband service? ● Does a resident at a given property get “$1 of broadband” for a dollar spent? On Location at North Loop ● Boots on the ground ● Outdoors only ● Hardware in hand Speedtesting Hardware MacBook Air: 1.6ghz, dual-core 8th-gen, intel core i5 2015, macOS …
Reliable and Affordable Broadband Internet for All Final Report: December 8, 2021 Khotan Harmon, 2021 Leadership Austin Digital Inclusion Fellow Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs (TARA) City of Austin What is digital equity “Digital inclusion is the ability of individuals and groups to equally access and use information and communication technologies affordably, efficiently, and reliably along with digital training, resources, and skills needed to fully participate in a digital society.” - Digital Empowerment Community of Austin (DECA) 2 ● Insights from Lived Experience of Results of inputs: How we got here Austin residents from CTTC Special Conversation ● Goal of the Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission Work Plan ● Experience from Previous City-supported projects & COA Digital Inclusion Strategic Plan ● Impact from COVID-19 Virtual Pivot ● Application to Leadership Austin and funded by St. David's Foundation (THANK YOU!) ● Khotan Harmon named LA Digital Inclusion Fellow ● Framed out the goals and inquiry areas for the project ● Aligned current City program staff to support Fellow and coordinated activities underway for project ● Identified initial stakeholders to engage in project 3 Project scope: Reliable and Affordable Broadband for All Project Goals: Deliverables: Our community needs a fellow to assess, identify and develop viable longer-term solutions to address the problem of digital equity to ensure reliable, affordable broadband for all. The availability of the internet is critical to participate in a growing digital society and to provide equitable, educational, job and economic opportunities and access to healthcare. Report #1: Community asset mapping and survey of existing data on the mapping and speed of private broadband infrastructure and reasons for barriers to broadband adoption. Report #2 - Feasibility Plan based on models and best practices nationally that could be offered as a possible solution in Austin for affordable reliable broadband for all in Austin. Stakeholder engagement - Reactivated, engaged and collaborating cross-sector of stakeholders in a wide-reaching and community-wide effort. 4 A 3-horizon view of the challenge and solutions HORIZON 1. ADDRESS IMMEDIATE NEEDS HORIZON 2. BRIDGE THE GAPS HORIZON 3. LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS Short term 1-3 years Medium term 3-5 years Long term 5-10 years 5 GAATN - Longer Term Collaboration ● The Fellowship was designed to evaluate and engage GAATN (Greater Austin Area Telecommunications Network) for possible digital equity solutions. That didn’t work out the way it was planned! “GAATN was created pursuant to Section 791.001 et seq. of the …
First Place Winner: $400 Award Name Zahraa Alfatle Submission Number 31 School Name Guerrero Thompson Elementary Age of Artist 11 Method Pencil, paper, colored pencils Subjectmatter Digital empowerment Second Place Winner: $200 Award Name Sowmya Kulukuru Submission Number 34 School Name James Bowie High School Age of Artist 14 Method Photoshop 2022 Subjectmatter During the pandemic, being able to reach out to my friends and loved ones was one of the things that kept me sane. Ever since moving from California all the way to Texas due to my dad's work, technology has enabled me to keep in touch with my old friends. Being able to talk with them like I used to, even though I'm over 1000 miles away, means a lot to me, and so I drew a superhero who is empowered by the technology around her. I drew a few examples of the ways I've used technology during the pandemic, like messaging people and drawing on my tablet. My artwork is meant to represent how, even though technology comes in such a small package, it can have a large impact on the people who use it, and empower people to reach limits they previously couldn't. Third Place Award: $100 Award Name Isabelle Call Submission Number 30 School Name Canyon Vista Middle School Age of Artist 11 Method Procreate on iPad and Apple Pencil Subjectmatter We can all be connected and stay in touch with everyone in our lives with technology. Even while staying home all year to keep safe, I got to learn from my teachers, saw my family and friends, and learned new things.
Digital Equity & Inclusion Townhall Summary Report - Part I Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission, City of Austin Nehemiah Pitts III, Commission Chair Digital Equity & Inclusion Townhall w/ CTTC On October 9th, 2021 Mission Capital and the Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission hosted a Digital Equity & Inclusion Townhall. Serving as a culminating portion of Digital Inclusion Week 2021 programming and part of our CTTC 2019 - 2020 Work Plan to host special conversations capturing lived experience, this event included a variety of Austin residents receiving services, policymakers, and the community leaders of local nonprofits. As reflected by last years work, the global COVID-19 pandemic has necessarily elevated the importance of Digital Equity and Inclusion conversations for affected communities and the leaders that serve them. The purpose of this convening was to allow Austin citizens the opportunity to directly communicate their lived experiences and persistent challenges with accessing internet-enabled devices and equitable broadband internet today. Following on previous meetings with local residents, community leaders, organizations, city staff, and local Internet Service Providers (ISPs), these citizen accounts and collaboration stories will provide “challenge data points” for cataloging and potential resolution in Part II of this Summary Report. Digital Equity & Inclusion Townhall Speakers Community Entities w/Staff & Clients United Way of Greater Austin Paola Silvestre - Director of Family Pathways Liliana Fuentes Lugo - Client Estefani Garcia - Client Viridiana Hernandez - Client Raul Alvarez Isabel Torres - Client Deja Gilline Davis - Client Housing Authority of the City of Austin & Austin Pathways Catherine Crago - Head of Strategic Initiatives Lupe Garcia - Smart City Ambassador/Client Irene Ensley - VP of Residents Council/Client Ana Clerc - Google Program Adminstrator Ashlee Johnson - ACC IT Intern Digital Equity & Inclusion Townhall Ecosystem Participants CTTC Commissioners Nehemiah Pitts III, Commission Chair - District #1 Steven Apodaca - District #2 - - - Maxine Eiland - District #7 Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs Office (TARA) - Khotan Harmon, 2021 Digital Inclusion Fellow Elected Officials/Staff Nonprofit Co-Hosts - Mayor Pro-Tem Natashia Harper-Madison - District #1 - - Reyda Taylor, PHD, Senior Consultant Data & Evaluation Chelsea Hartness, Membership Manager Discuss this report and possible action at next meeting. Actions may include voting to collaborate on the creation of one or more of the following: 1.) Client Follow Up 2.) Program Ideation & Collaboration w/APL, HACA, and United Way to start Next Steps?
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Regular Meeting Wednesday – November 10, 2021 – 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 CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Nehemiah Pitts III, Chair Steven Apodaca Dave Floyd Maxine Eiland Nicole Thompson Sophie Gairo Malcolm Yeatts Illiya Svirsky Jennifer Ramos Sumit DasGupta AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 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 – October 13, 2021 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. Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs update – Rondella Hawkins, TARA Officer, Financial Services Department 3. NEW BUSINESS (Discussion and Possible Action) a. Digital Inclusion Week Art Competition – Jesse Rodriguez, Interim Program Manager, Financial Services Department (discussion and possible action) b. Digital Equity and Inclusion Town Hall – Chair Nehemiah Pitts III (Commission discussion and possible action) c. Election of Officers – Vice Chair (Commission discussion and action) 4. COMMISSION UPDATES (Discussion and Possible Action) a. Digital Inclusion, Civic Engagement, and Strategic Technology and Telecom Policy Working Group 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 through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission, please contact Jesse Rodriguez at jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Regular Meeting Wednesday – October 13, 2021 – 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 CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Nehemiah Pitts III, Chair Sophie Gairo Malcolm Yeatts Illiya Svirsky Jennifer Ramos Sumit DasGupta David Alexander, Vice Chair Steven Apodaca Dave Floyd Maxine Eiland Nicole Thompson AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 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 – September 29, 2021 2. NEW BUSINESS (Discussion and Possible Action) a. Digital Inclusion Week Art Competition – Jesse Rodriguez, Interim Program Manager, Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs (discussion and possible action) b. Commission discussion and action on its 2022 meeting schedule (Commission discussion and possible action) c. Grant for Technology Opportunities Program 2022 Cycle - Jesse Rodriguez, Interim Program Manager, Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs (discussion and possible action) d. Digital Equity and Inclusion Town Hall (Commission discussion and possible action) 3. COMMISSION UPDATES (Discussion and Possible Action) a. Digital Inclusion, Civic Engagement, and Strategic Technology and Telecom Policy Working Group 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 through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission, please contact Jesse Rodriguez at jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov
2022 Meeting Schedule Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission The commission shall meet the 2nd Wednesday of the month. MEETING DATES CANCELLED MEETING DATES & EVENTS January 12 February 9 March 9 April 13 May 11 June 8 July 13 August 10 September 14 October 12 November 9 December 14 Commission members serve for a term of four years beginning March 1st on the year of appointment. GTOPS 2022 Update – Applications Received. Meeting will be held outside of central City. Commission FY 23 Budget Recommendations due no later than mid-April. GTOPs 2022 Award Recommendations. Election of Officers at the first regular meeting after April 1, 2022 Terms of office shall be one year, beginning May 1st and ending April 30th. Work Plan Retreat / Regular Meeting Terms for newly elected officers start (May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023) Commission Annual Report Due to City Clerk July 31st NO MEETING SCHEDULED FOR THIS DATE 2022 GTOPs Review and 2023 Recommendations Adopt a meeting schedule for the upcoming year, including makeup meeting dates for holiday and cancelled meetings.
M E M O R A N D U M Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission TO: FROM: Jesse Rodriguez, Interim Program Manager Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs October 13, 2021 DATE: SUBJECT: Recommendations for 2022 Grant for Technology Opportunities Program Background The City of Austin’s Digital Inclusion Strategic Plan, as adopted by Resolution No. 20141120- 074, includes every Austin resident having an opportunity to be fully engaged in digital society, accessing and using digital and communications technology. The Office of Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs (TARA) is the lead office for implementation of this plan. The Grant for Technology Opportunities Program (GTOPs) is a grant administered by the Community Technology (CT) Division of TARA directed at improving the community's ability to fully participate in the digital society to achieve the goals of the Digital Inclusion Strategic Plan. Purpose and Process The purpose of this report is to review the significant changes coming to the 2022 cycle of the GTOPs. Each year, CT staff performs a review of the prior grant cycle in preparation for the next year of grants. For this year’s annual strategic planning and review process, feedback surveys were deployed to all GTOPs applicants and reviewers. In addition, staff observations and multiple touchpoints with the chair of the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission (CTTC) were taken into account. From these data sources, recommendations were drafted into the final version of the recommendations, presented below. Analysis There are three categories of changes being proposed for the GTOPs 2022 cycle: 1) Changes to the review and scoring process; 2) changes to the application and application process; 3) changes to contract oversight; and 4) continuous innovation and improvement plans. Together, these four changes could greatly improve service delivery and core program capacity to local Austin nonprofit groups. Changes to the Review and Scoring Process Recommendation 1: Transition to an Olympic-style scoring system, whereby the top and bottom scores are dropped 1 Under the current GTOPs scoring system, each reviewer independently scores applications. All scores are provided to all awardees along with comments on why the reviewers scored the way they did. Naturally, different reviewers score in slightly different ways, some higher, others lower on average. Individual applicants often see a single score that is significantly lower than the others, and they often feel as if a single reviewer is taking them out of the running. This is a consistent point of feedback, not …
First Place Award: $400 Name: Mira Patel School: Kealing Middle School ID 13 12 Age of Artist Submission Method Digitally Method I used alcohol markers and pen on tan mixed media paper. This is a style of art is a mix of realism and character art that is often used in bullet journaling. Subjectmatter Date Created 11/4/2020 9:15pm To me, digital equity means tech adapted to fit different types of peoples needs. Equity is different than giving everyone the same thing because everyone is different. Second Place Award: $200 Name: Ari Bernstein School: Covington Fine Arts Academy ID 18 12 Age of Artist Submission Method Digitally Method Subjectmatter online. Date Created 11/6/2020 11:16am Prismacolor, a pencil, sharpie and, gimp (photoshop like program) My artwork is about everyone, no matter the difference, having equal digital tools and resources needed to succeed digitally. I showed this by drawing diverse people in different places and them using different kinds of technology to learn and create things Third Place Award: $100 Name: Kavya Gupta School: St Francis School ID 24 11 Age of Artist Submission Method Digitally Method colors in photoshop. Subjectmatter I first made a pencil sketch of the people, inked it, scanned it, and then finalized the This art is about kids connecting digitally in this pandemic, even if things get hard. This also reminds me that everyone is here for you, and we are not alone. This drawing also has lots of races, cultures, and ethnicities, connecting to each other digitally, no matter what you look like, or where you come from. Date Created 11/6/2020 11:33pm Score Distribution Submission Originality Theme 9.33 8.67 7.33 7.67 7.33 7.33 7.33 6.33 6.00 8.00 6.00 6.67 5.00 7.67 4.00 7.00 4.33 4.33 3.67 3.33 2.00 Creativity 9.33 8.33 8.33 7.33 7.33 6.67 6.33 6.67 6.67 6.00 6.67 6.33 6.00 5.67 5.33 5.00 5.00 5.33 4.33 3.67 3.33 Impactful / Engaging 9.67 8.00 7.67 7.33 7.33 6.33 7.00 6.00 5.00 7.00 5.67 5.33 6.00 6.33 5.33 4.67 4.67 4.33 4.00 4.00 2.67 Average Score 37.00 33.33 31.67 30.00 29.67 28.00 27.67 26.33 25.67 25.67 25.33 24.67 24.33 24.33 22.00 21.67 20.00 20.00 17.67 16.33 13.67 8.67 8.33 8.33 7.67 7.67 7.67 7.00 7.33 8.00 4.67 7.00 6.33 7.33 4.67 7.33 5.00 6.00 6.00 5.67 5.33 5.67 13 18 24 20 22 16 2 17 1 19 14 5 6 10 23 3 7 15 4 …
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION http://www.austintexas.gov/cttc MINUTES Regular Meeting Wednesday – October 13, 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 Steven Apodaca – Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, 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 Iliya Svirsky ‐ 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 Nicole Thompson Dave Floyd Steven Apodaca Jennifer Ramos Sophie Gairo Commission Members Attending Remotely Maxine Eiland Sumit DasGupta Malcolm Yeatts Unexcused Absence David Alexander Iliya Svirsky CALL TO ORDER Meeting started at 6:49PM 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 – September 29, 2021 Motion by Chair Pitts to approve the minutes as amended; second by Commissioner Dasgupta; passed on a vote of 9-0. Minor wording change would be CEO ACTION FOR RACIAL EQUITY, Motion for the wording change as per Commissioner Apodaca. 2. NEW BUSINESS (Discussion and Possible Action) a. Digital Inclusion Week Art Competition – Jesse Rodriguez, Interim Program Manager, Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs (discussion and possible action) The announcement of the awards was postponed due to the lack of submissions. b. Commission discussion and action on its 2022 meeting schedule (Commission discussion and possible action) Motion to approve the commission 2022 schedule as presented made by Chair Pitts, second by Commission Apodaca passed on a vote of 9-0. Presentation by Jesse Rodriguez can be viewed …
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Special Called Meeting Wednesday – September 29, 2021 – 6:30 PM City Hall – Chambers - Room 1001 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 CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Nehemiah Pitts III, Chair Sophie Gairo Malcolm Yeatts Illiya Svirsky Jennifer Ramos Sumit DasGupta David Alexander, Vice Chair Steven Apodaca Dave Floyd Maxine Eiland Nicole Thompson AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 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 – July 14, 2021 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. Autonomy Institute Fellow Presentation on Public Infrastructure Network Nodes (Jeff DeCoux, Autonomy Institute Fellow) 3. NEW BUSINESS (Discussion and Possible Action) a. City of Austin Strategic Outcomes Review (Commission discussion and possible action) b. Digital Inclusion Week 2021 Planning (Commission discussion and possible action) 4. COMMISSION UPDATES (Discussion and Possible Action) a. Digital Inclusion, Civic Engagement, and Strategic Technology and Telecom Policy Working Group 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 through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission, please contact Jesse Rodriguez at jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov
OUR VISION Austin is a beacon of sustainability, social equity, and economic opportunity; where diversity and creativity are celebrated; where community needs and values are recognized; where leadership comes from its community members, and where the necessities of life are affordable and accessible to all. OUR STRATEGIC OUTCOMES Together we strive to create a complete community where every Austinite has choices at every stage of life that allow us to experience and contribute to all of the following outcomes: economic opportunity & affordability Having economic opportunities and resources that enable us to thrive in our community. mobility Getting us where we want to go, when we want to get there, safely and cost-effectively. safety Being safe in our home, at work, and in our community. health & environment Enjoying a sustainable environment and a healthy life, physically and mentally. CULTURe & LIFELONG LEARNING Being enriched by Austin’s unique civic, cultural, ethnic, and learning opportunities. Government that works for all Believing that city government works effectively and collaboratively for all of us—that it is equitable, ethical and innovative. austintexas.gov/StrategicPlan OUR INDICATORS City Council adopted 6 Strategic Outcomes and these Indicators on March 8, 2018. Economic Opportunity & Affordability Having economic opportunities and resources that enable us to thrive in our community. A. Employment/unemployment B. Income equality C. Cost of living compared to income D. Housing availability and affordability E. Homelessness F. Training for better jobs G. Ability to improve your income mobility Getting us where we want to go, when we want to get there, safely and cost-effectively. A. Traffic congestion B. Transportation cost C. Accessibility to transportation choices D. Safety E. Condition of transportation-related infrastructure safety Being safe in our home, at work, and in our community. A. Timeliness and quality of emergency response B. Public compliance with laws and regulations C. Emergency preparedness and recovery D. Fair administration of justice E. Quality and reliability of critical infrastructure health & environment Enjoying a sustainable environment and a healthy life, physically and mentally. A. Health conditions among the public B. Accessibility to quality health care services, (physical and mental) C. Accessibility to quality parks, trails, and recreational opportunities D. Environmental quality E. Climate change and community resilience F. Food security and nutrition Culture & Lifelong Learning Being enriched by Austin’s unique civic, cultural, ethnic, and learning opportunities. A. Quality of cultural venues, events, programs, …
Annual Internal Review This report covers the period of 7/1/2020 to 6/30/2021 COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION The Board/Commission mission statement (per the City Code) is: § 2-1- 107 - COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION. (A) The Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission membership should be broadly representative of community interests. A commissioner should have resided continuously within the City for not less than 180 days. (B)In this section: (1) Information and communications technology includes digital devices, networks, and software that allow people to create, access, store, transmit, and manipulate information. (2) Community technology includes information, communications technology training, and access that promotes civic and cultural participation, employment, and life-long learning. (3) Telecommunications services include all transmission of voice, data, or video by means of permanent facilities installed in the City's rights-of-way or by means of radio transmission. (C) The commission shall advise the city council regarding issues that include: (1) Community technology; (2) Telecommunications services; (3) New sources of funding for access television projects; (4) New sources of funding for community technology projects; (5) Allocation of annual financial support; (6) The evaluation of the performance of access television contractors and other community technology contractors, including development of criteria to be used for evaluations; and (7) Information and communications technology facilities and services that are operated by the City for public use, including the City web site, Internet services and open government technologies. (D) The commission shall conduct public hearings regarding issues that include: (1) The performance of access television contractors and other community technology contractors; and (2) The identification of community cable, telecommunications, and technology 2 needs. (E) The commission shall promote access to telecommunications services and community technologies by methods including: (1) Public awareness, use, and viewership of access television programming and other community media; (2) Identifying community technology needs and problems in the City and defining innovative programming approaches to those needs and problems; and (3) Public awareness of telecommunications policy and community technology issues. (F) The commission shall serve as a coordinating forum for issues relating to the provision of every different type of telecommunications services and community technologies, by receiving reports and recommendations from other City boards and commissions and from City departments, and forwarding these to the city council. (G) The commission does not possess any sovereign authority regarding any cable television or cable related telecommunications issue, and the commission serves in an advisory capacity …
PAT H TO CO M M E R C I A L I Z AT I O N PREPARED FOR: Chair Pitts Vice Chair Alexander Commissioner Apodaca Commissioner Thompson Commissioner Gairo Commissioner Floyd Commissioner Ramos Commissioner Yeatts Commissioner Eiland Commissioner DasGupta Commissioner Svirsky Rondella Hawkins CREATING INTELLIGENT AND RESPONSIVE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES 1 2020 Autonomy Institute Confidential Information - Do Not Distribute without written permission. PATH TO COMMERCE - INTELLIGENT AND AUTONOMOUS INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTORS INDUSTRY CONSORTIUM (501C3) GOVERNMENT ENTITIES $100+ Million P3/SPV University Collaboration INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE Autonomous Infrastructure GRIDs Autonomous Mobility Zones Autonomous Mobility City Regions Resilient Microgrid AUTONOMOUS OPERATIONS “AUTONOMY COMMERCE ACT” The Autonomous Systems Operation Control Center Autonomy Requires New Operations 2020 Autonomy Institute Proprietary Information Foundation Depends on “Path to Commerce” “INVESTMENT IN A 21ST-CENTURY INTELLIGENT & AUTONOMOUS INFRASTRUCTURE IS AMONG THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES FOR STIMULATING ECONOMIC EXPANSION, NATIONAL SECURITY, AND JOB GROWTH. “ 2019 ATRIUS Industries Confidential Information - Do Not Distribute without written permission. INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE IS AT THE HEART OF RESILIENT CITIES IT WILL DRIVE JOBS, INNOVATION, GROWTH, DIVERSITY, & PROSPERITY BILITY A D R NITY & AFFO RTU O P P MIC O O N O C E G NIN R A G LE N E & LIFELO ULTU R C RITY U C E AFETY & S S NT E M N O VIR N ALTH & E E H S GISTIC BILITY & LO O M R ALL S FO K R O AT W NT TH E M N R E V O G INFRASTRUCTURE TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE AND FLOURISHING CITY THREE FOUNDATIONS FOR AN INTELLIGENT CITY BUILDING INTELLIGENT, CONNECTED, INCLUSIVE, AUTONOMOUS, AND RESILIENT 21ST CENTURY CITIES BRIDGE BETWEEN PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL EDGE INFRASTRUCTURE ACTIVE DIGITAL TWIN DATA EXCHANGE DATA INDUSTRY 4.0 REQUIRES INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE Railroad Rail Lines, Intermodals Electricity Automotive Aircraft Internet Industry 4.0 Transformers and Transmission Roads/ Highways Airports, Radars/ Transponders Data Centers, Towers, ISP Public Infrastructure Network Nodes Broadband 5G Networks Transportation Edge Compute Digital Corridors Security 2020 Autonomy Institute TSUNAMI OF TECHNOLOGY BLIGHT COMING TO OUR CITIES! SECURITY & OPERATIONAL ISSUES Carriers 4G 5G CBRS Private RAN Fiber Backhaul IoT Services Transportation Intelligent Transportation Systems CV2X Radars Cameras Lidar Beacons APNT Computing Edge Computing Cloud Vendors Integrators App Developers New Services Government EMS Networks Public Safety Environmental Sensors APNT Smart City RF Sensors Cameras Environmental Safety Electric Energy Resilience Transformers Energy Storage EMP Hardening 2021 …
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION http://www.austintexas.gov/cttc MINUTES Special Called Meeting Wednesday – September 29, 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 Steven Apodaca – Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, 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 Iliya Svirsky ‐ 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 ‐ Council Member Natasha Harper‐Madison, District 1 Nicole Thompson – Council Member Kathie Tovo, District 9 Iliya Svirsky ‐ Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, District 6 Sophie Gairo ‐ Mayor Steve Adler Dave Floyd ‐ Council Member Ann Kitchen, District 5 Steven Apodaca – Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, District 2 Jennifer Ramos ‐ Council Member Paige Ellis, District 8 Unexcused Absence CALL TO ORDER 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 – July 14, 2021 Motion by Commissioner Ramos to approve the minutes as presented seconded by Commissioner Svirsky, passed on a vote of 10-0. 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. Autonomy Institute Fellow Presentation on Public Infrastructure Network Nodes (Jeff DeCoux, Autonomy Institute Fellow) Presentation by Jeff DeCoux can be viewed here. 3. NEW BUSINESS (Discussion and Possible Action) a. City of Austin Strategic Outcomes Review (Commission discussion and possible action) City of Austin Strategic Direction can be viewed …
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Regular Meeting Wednesday – September 8, 2021 – 6:30 PM City Hall - Boards & 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 CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Nehemiah Pitts III, Chair Sophie Gairo Malcolm Yeatts Illiya Svirsky Jennifer Ramos Sumit DasGupta David Alexander, Vice Chair Steven Apodaca Dave Floyd Maxine Eiland Nicole Thompson AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 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 – July 14, 2021 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. Autonomy Institute Fellow Presentation on Physics Informed Neural Networks (Jeff DeCoux, Autonomy Institute Fellow) 3. NEW BUSINESS (Discussion and Possible Action) a. City of Austin Strategic Outcomes Review (Commission discussion and possible action) b. Digital Inclusion Week 2021 Planning (Commission discussion and possible action) 4. COMMISSION UPDATES (Discussion and Possible Action) a. Digital Inclusion, Civic Engagement, and Strategic Technology and Telecom Policy Working Group 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 through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission, please contact Jesse Rodriguez at jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov
Versión en español a continuación. Regular Meeting of the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission to be held July 14, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (July 13 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the July 14, 2021 Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission Meeting, members of the public must: Call or email the board liaison at 512-974-7676 or jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. Handouts or other information may be emailed to jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission FECHA de la reunion (July 14, 2021) La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (July 13 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en 512-974-7676 or jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. • Una vez que se haya llamado o enviado por …
Reliable and Affordable Broadband Internet for All For the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission July 2021 1 What we will be talking about in this presentation The DI Fellowship is part of the Digital Inclusion Strategic Plan of the Telecommunications And Regulatory Affairs Office at the City of Austin, with the task of ensuring sustainable solutions to ensure reliable and affordable broadband for all. The Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission has a dedicated focus on Digital Inclusion and Civic Engagement, with inclusion for all and “Equity” as our defined strategic outcome for disaffected and underserved populations. Stakeholder engagement and issue identification portion of the DI Fellowship that has resulted in the emergence of priority areas and solutions. The DI solutions are framed within the priority areas of economic recovery and resilience, as outlined by the City of Austin City Council and Economic Development Department. 2 Contents 1. Background and overview of the effort for reliable and affordable broadband for all 2. What we have done and learned so far 3. What happens next 3 1 Background and overview of the effort for reliable and affordable broadband for all 4 ● Insights from Lived Experience of Results of inputs: How we got here Austin residents from CTTC Special Conversation ● Goal of the Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission Work Plan ● Experience from Previous City-supported projects & COA Digital Inclusion Strategic Plan ● Impact from COVID-19 Virtual Pivot ● Application to Leadership Austin and funded by St. David's Foundation (THANK YOU!) ● Khotan Harmon named LA Digital Inclusion Fellow ● Framed out the goals and inquiry areas for the project ● Aligned current City program staff to support Fellow and coordinated activities underway for project ● Identified initial stakeholders to engage in project 5 Project scope: Reliable and Affordable Broadband for All Project Goals: Deliverables: Our community needs a fellow to assess, identify and develop viable longer-term solutions to address the problem of digital equity to ensure reliable, affordable broadband for all. The availability of the internet is critical to participate in a growing digital society and to provide equitable, educational, job and economic opportunities and access to healthcare. Report #1: Community asset mapping and survey of existing data on the mapping and speed of private broadband infrastructure and reasons for barriers to broadband adoption. Report #2 - Feasibility Plan based on models and best practices nationally that could be offered …
Media Production Training and Public Access Television Facilities Management City of Austin, Purchasing Office & Telecom & Regulatory Affairs 1 What’s Inside Introduction and Purpose Research and Engagement Contract Goals Evaluation Criteria, Timeline & Recommended Vendor 2 B Introduction and Purpose 3 Public Access Television in Austin Digital Inclusion Vision The City of Austin Vision is for every Austin resident to be be fully engaged in digital society, accessing and using digital and communications technology. Digital Inclusion Goals ● Increase internet usage ● Reduce barriers to digital access ● Support digital literacy training ● Promote access to technology devices ● Promote accommodations for non-english speakers and persons with disabilities ● Develop relevant digital inclusion programming and advocate for continued community support The City of Austin Public Access Television and Media Production Facility is open to the public in Council District 1. 4 Media Production Training and Public Access Television Facilities Management ● Federal Cable Act and Chapter 66 of the Texas Utilities Code. ● Seven active public, educational and government access channels, of which the City Council has allocated three for Public Access. ● Austin has the longest continually operating public access channel in the nation, and the fiftieth anniversary will occur in 2023. ● Contract will provide continuing management of the City’s public access ● A key feature of this contract will be the Austin Film Society engaging Workforce Solutions of the Capital Area for workforce development training in the creative television assets sector. 5 C Research & Engagement 6 ● Digital Empowerment Community of Austin (working group of nonprofits, educational Research and Engagement Insights, Opportunities and Needs from: institutions and private tech companies) ● Economic Development Department ● Austin Public Library ● Communications & Technology Management Department Key Findings ● Need for more structured workforce training programming ● Address principles of equity and inclusion ● Support creative sector employment pipeline 7 D Request for Proposals 8 Recommended Vendor and Timeline ● April 12, 2021: Solicitation Issued ● May 18, 2021: Solicitation Closed ● The four member evaluation team with expertise in this area completed their process and recommended award to: FIlm Society of Austin. 9 Thank you. City of Austin, Office of Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs John Speirs, john.speirs@austintexas.gov 10
CTM Briefing to CTTC Chris Stewart, Chief Information Officer July 14, 2021 Organizational Updates Deputy CIO Recruitment • Public Safety – Apply by July 16th, 2021 • Enterprise Infrastructure – Apply by July 30th, 2021 • Enterprise Applications – Apply by August 7th, 2021 Strategic Direction • Role of the Chief Information Officer • Updated Vision and Mission • New Governance Model 7/20/2021 2 IT Security Security Operations Manager Recruitment • Candidate selection under way • Will manage small team of operational IT Security Consultants Cyber Security Strengthening and Awareness • ISO completed 2021 InfoSec Security training for COA • CTM addressing needs from ISO • MFA and EDR • Secure and safe backups 7/20/2021 3 Infrastructure Network • Network modernization • Critical node generators Security • Log aggregation enhancements • FTP migrations • Cloud foundations for AWS and Azure • Identity Access Management Audio Visual • City Hall video switching upgrades • Piloting video conferencing solutions • Unified Endpoint Management Telephony • PBX to system-based telephony 7/20/2021 4 Applications / PMO / BRM Permitting • Replacing the AB+C Portal with a modern platform and improved user design • Major upgrade of Amanda Back Office GIS • ArcGIS Pro and Online to 2,500 users • Geospatial Cloud Strategy • Improving addressing customer journey Asset Management • Projects to implement or improve work order management in process for PARD, ACC, APL, WPD, and PWD Project Management • Manager recruitment Business Relationship Mgmt • Manager recruitment • Addition of Safety BRM • Enriching enterprise street network • Focus on business value from CTM 7/20/2021 5 Digital Services Accessibility and Usability • Partnership between CTM, CPIO, and Online Services and Forms • Audit and digitization of more than 700 the ADA Office PDF forms • Focus on making the COA website AA • Reduce the need for residents to come compliant per Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) • Translation as a Service RFP Austintexas.gov • Recently upgraded from Drupal 8 to 9 with nearly no service interruption • Continue enhancing features, security and stability of the COA website in person to perform a City service Digital Asset Management • RFP for a cloud-based DAM platform that will securely store and serve digital assets in an organized and easily accessible manner • This centralized approach will improve efficiencies and costs in creating, locating, and storing digital assets 7/20/2021 6 Public Safety Reimagination • Working …
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION http://www.austintexas.gov/cttc MINUTES Regular Meeting Wednesday – July 14, 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 Steven Apodaca – Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, 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 Iliya Svirsky ‐ 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 Steven Apodaca Malcolm Yeatts David Alexander Dave Floyd Iliya Svirsky Maxine Eiland Jennifer Ramos Nicole Thompson Sumit DasGupta Unexcused Absence Sophie Gairo CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 6:36 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. Trevor Hussey spoke on the health effects of 5G. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – June 9, 2021 Motion to approve the June 9, 2021 minutes made by Commissioner Svirsky, seconded by Commissioner DasGupta, passed on a vote of 8-0-1-1 with Commissioner Yeatts abstaining and Commissioner Ramos not present. 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. Briefing on Communications and Technology Management Structure and Initiatives (Chris Stewart, Chief Information Officer) Presentation by Chris can be viewed here. b. Briefing on the Solicitation for Media Access and Public Broadcast Services (John Speirs, Program Manager, TARA) The language of this item was adjusted to “Briefing on the Solicitation for Media Production Training and Public access Television Facilities Management”. Presentation …
Versión en español a continuación. Regular Meeting of the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission to be held June 9, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (June 8 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the June 9, 2021 Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission Meeting, members of the public must: Call or email the board liaison at 512-974-7676 or jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. Handouts or other information may be emailed to jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission FECHA de la reunion (June 9, 2021) La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (June 8 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en 512-974-7676 or jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. • Una vez que se haya llamado o enviado por …
TO: FROM: DATE: June 9, 2021 Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission John Speirs, Program Manager, Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs SUBJECT: Status Update: Digital Inclusion Projects The purpose of information related to priority Digital Inclusion activities. this memorandum is to provide the Commission with topline Background On October 9th, 2020 the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission (CTTC) convened a Special Called Meeting focused on Digital Equity. This meeting included a variety of Austin residents receiving services, policymakers, and the community leaders of local nonprofits. The global COVID-19 pandemic has necessarily elevated the importance of such conversations. The purpose of the convening was to allow Austin citizens the opportunity to directly lived experiences and persistent challenges with accessing communicate their internet-enabled devices and equitable broadband internet. Their accounts provide “challenge data points” for further analysis by staff. The key data points include: ● No universal screen reader standard ● Digital skills training for parents and working student families ● Insufficient hotspot bandwidth for common share wi-fi access scenarios ● Lack of culturally competent device training and resources (ESL, deaf, visually impaired, etc) ● Lack of relevancy and trust in internet or tech companies ● Lack of geographically equitable broadband The findings of this Special Called Meeting were discussed at the subsequent Regular 1 Meeting of the commission on November 19th available in the Special Report on Digital Equity linked here. The initial recommendations to form a working group are represented by the Digital Inclusion, Civic Engagement, and Strategic Technology and Telecom Policy Working Group of the Commission to explore the next steps in responding to the above points. Discussion The Office of Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs is working to advance opportunities to ensure that every member of the Austin community has access to reliable and affordable broadband internet. As of January 2021, the City of Austin is a host for the 2021 Leadership Austin Digital Inclusion Fellow Khotan Harmon. This additional capacity has led to the creation of the Reliable and Affordable Broadband Internet for All Project. The intent of the project is to identify and develop viable longer-term solutions to address the problem of digital equity to ensure reliable, affordable broadband for all. The availability of the internet is critical to participate in a job and economic growing digital society and to provide equitable, educational, opportunities and access to healthcare. The deliverables align with the CTTC priority goals and serve to …
2020 Annual CTTC Review Discussion Document Agenda Items, Budget Recommendations, & Council Agenda Item Requests October 2019 ● Sustainable Transit Strategies (Susan Engelking, Executive Director, Institute for Community MicroMobility) ● Small Cell Permitting Process (John Guinan, Project Manager, City of Austin) ● Adoption of the 2020 schedule and meeting locations November 2019 ● Smart Mobility and Innovation at CapMetro (Charlie Jackson, Director of Transit Technology Systems, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority) ● Selection of the GTOPs 2020 Grant Review Panel and update on the Letters of Interest received for the GTOPs 2020 application process (Jesse Rodriguez, Business Process Specialist, City of Austin) ● GTOPs 2020 Process Update (Jesse Rodriguez, Telecommunications & Regulatory ● Potential Strategic Technology & Telecom Policy Impact Working Group merger with Digital Inclusion & Civic Engagement Working Group (Chair Nehemiah Pitts) ● CTTC Working Group Conference Call Calendaring (Chair Nehemiah Pitts) ● Communications & Technology Management Department Update (Stephen Elkins, Communications and Technology Management) ● Improving the resident experience with City forms (Daniel Honker, Soolin Withrow, and Andrew Do, Communications and Technology Management) ● 2020 Census (John Lawler, Travis County Census Program Manager) ● Digital Inclusion Ecosystem - Austin Urban Technology Movement (Michael Ward, Jr., President of AUTM) ● City Website Upgrade (Yasmin Wagner, Corporate Public Information & Marketing Manager, Communications & Public Information Office) ● Commission discussion and action on the FY21 Budget Recommendations including City Council Vote Tabulation, Police Video Processing, Remote Meeting Participation ● Commission discussion and action on GTOPs 2020 Award Recommendations December 2019 Affairs) January 2020 February 2020 April 2020 May 2020 19 July 2020 September 2020 Affairs) October 2020 ● Commission discussion and action on the Digital Inclusion Stakeholder Summit ● Commission discussion and action on the FY21 Budget Recommendations including City Council Vote Tabulation, Digital Inclusion Stakeholder Summit, Police Video Processing, Remote Meeting Participation, Grant for Technology Opportunities Program Marketing, and Residential Technology Study ● Commission discussion and action on the FY21 Budget Recommendations including Police Video Processing, APL Wi-Fi Lending Program, and the Austin Public Health Department website. ● DECA & Digital Inclusion Office information and resource distribution amid COVID- ● Commission Discussion on Annual Priorities for the Annual Work Plan ● Briefing on COVID-19 Response to Digital Inclusion Programs (John Speirs, Program Manager – Telecom & Regulatory Affairs) ● TARA Office Briefing (John Speirs, Program Manager – Telecom & Regulatory ● Discussion and action on Grant for Technology Opportunities …
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION http://www.austintexas.gov/cttc MINUTES Regular Meeting Wednesday – June 9, 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 Steven Apodaca – Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, 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 Iliya Svirsky ‐ 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 Steven Apodaca David Alexander Dave Floyd Iliya Svirsky Maxine Eiland Jennifer Ramos Nicole Thompson Sumit DasGupta Unexcused Absence Sophie Gairo Malcolm Yeatts CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 6:36 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. Zenobia Joseph spoke on wi-fi connectivity at CapMetro bus stops. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – May 12, 20021 Motion to approve the May 12, 2021 meeting minutes made by commissioner Svirsky, seconded by Chair Pitts passed on a vote of 7-0 with Commissioners DasGupta and Ramos off the dias. 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. Written briefing to update on the Residential Technology Study (Office of Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs) The written briefing can be viewed here. 3. NEW BUSINESS (Discussion and Possible Action) a. Annual CTTC Work Plan (Commission Discussion and Possible Action) Chair Pitts gave a review of agenda items and budget items that the Commission has considered in the past fiscal year. …
Versión en español a continuación. Regular Meeting of the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission to be held May 12, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (May 11 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the May 12, 2021 Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission Meeting, members of the public must: Call or email the board liaison at 512-974-7676 or jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. Handouts or other information may be emailed to jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission FECHA de la reunion (May 12, 2021) La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (May 11 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en 512-974-7676 or jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. • Una vez que se haya llamado o enviado por …
Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission 2021- 2022 Work Plan Knowledge, Information, and Data Stewardship ● Chair: David Alexander ● Nehemiah Pitts, III ● Dave Floyd ● Maxine Eiland Members Objectives 1. Explore how the City can communicate its programs, services, and resources to underserved areas and communities without access to the internet (i.e. digital kiosks around town). 2. Explore current City capability to receive concerns about tech and issues with tech, outside of in-person attendance at City Council meetings; also, explore the possibility of utilizing a digital forum to enable this functionality. 3. Collaboration between COA and UT to create SpeadUpAmerica bandwidth map 4. Equitable Broadband Geographical Data Report & Analysis 5. Monitor COA webpage redesign project 6. Council vote database 7. Residential Technology Study 8. UT-COA & CTTC ILA Research Collaboration 9. City-Wide Technology Pilot Audit & Assessment a. Software Applications b. Atlas One APD App c. Community First 3-Printing Homelessness Solutions d. Autonomous Vehicles, Drones, & Smart City Tech Technology, Infrastructure, and Innovation ● Co-Chair: Sumit DasGupta ● Co-Chair: Dave Floyd ● Malcolm Yeatts ● Nehemiah Pitts, III Members Objectives 1. Provide partnerships with other organizations or high-tech companies moving into Austin to enable city-wide free wifi hot spots, charging stations, public devices to use etc. 2. Continue to monitor Google Fiber deployment in Austin 3. GAATN Internet a. Advocate for the use of the GAATN network to expand resident access to the b. Review plans for technology upgrades to the GAATN network c. CoA network sharing, e.g., GATTN and evaluation of means by which city could incentivize carriers to provide upgraded services throughout the city 4. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Efficiency & Equity Analysis & Assessment a. Infrastructure for Advance Services (IAS) Program Team, Camp Mabry, Austin Emergency Services, Austin Energy, etc... 5. Rollout of upgrades by carriers to interconnect technology, particularly in areas where the city is upgrading its roads infrastructure 6. 5G and small cell deployment beyond the downtown area 7. Smart Cities progress 8. ATD smart mobility effort and alignment with CapMetro plans and means to align enhancements to communications infrastructure 9. Upgrade to city fiber technology 10. Promote economies of scale via evaluating the ecosystem of technology units in the city and recommending consolidation as appropriate. 11. Removal of barriers to access to broadband / wireless connectivity in marginally-served (low income) areas of the city Digital Inclusion, Civic Engagement, and Strategic Policy …
Name of Board or Commission: Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission Request Number: 20210512‐2a Description of Item: WHEREAS, City Council passed on February 7, 2019, a resolution directing the City Manager and the City Clerk to research best practices for electronic vote recording and report the results of the investigation in May of 2019; WHEREAS, it is the intent of this commission to advise City Council in service of the community and transparency of all future City actions and our elected officials voting record; WHEREAS, an informed and engaged community is essential to the health of our local government; and WHEREAS, the voting record and legislative history of any government body is foundational and essential information for an informed and engaged community; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin has both the means and the stated intent to make government more open and transparent; and WHEREAS, many other city, state, and national legislative bodies, including the City of Dallas, routinely publish data sets containing the basic information of the voting history of those legislative bodies; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin does not tabulate voting histories on council action in a form that ensures a transparent, open, and consumable record; and WHEREAS, the Austin Neighborhood Council, representing the neighborhoods of Austin, has passed a resolution asking City Council to create an online City Council voting record; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION: Requests City Council to place an Agenda Item on the appropriate Council Committee Agenda to discuss which option in the City Clerk’s Office report of May 28, 2019 would be appropriate for Austin; And, further requests that City Council allocate sufficient funds in the FY 2021 – 2022 Budget to purchase resources for this effort and for additional FTE position for administration; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: This project will allow the City of Austin to publish a future tabular data set useful in quantitative analysis of future city action and our elected officials’ future voting records to the city’s Open Data Portal. This data set will contain the following information at a minimum: Item description Meeting date Member name Member district Vote cast Present during vote 2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: This data set will be appended with updates within 2 business days following any council vote. Board or Commission Vote to refer item to Council: Motion …
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION http://www.austintexas.gov/cttc MINUTES Regular Meeting Wednesday – May 12, 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 Steven Apodaca – Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, 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 Iliya Svirsky ‐ Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, District 6 Maxine Eiland ‐ 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 Steven Apodaca Malcolm Yeatts David Alexander Dave Floyd Iliya Svirsky Maxine Eiland Nicole Thompson Sumit DasGupta Unexcused Absence Sophie Gairo CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 6:37 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 – April 14, 2021 Motion to approve the April 14, 2021 minutes made by Commissioner Eiland, seconded by Commissioner Floyd passed on a vote of 7-0-2 with Commissioner Svirsky 2. NEW BUSINESS (Discussion and Possible Action) a. Council Committee Agenda Request for Council Vote Tablature (Discussion and Possible Action) Motion to approve a list of items to be included in the Council vote dataset at minimum made by Commissioner Eiland, seconded by Chair Pitts, passed on a vote of 9-0. Motion to approve the Council Committee Agenda Request for Council Vote Tablature as edited and read into the record made by Commissioner Yeatts, seconded by Commissioner DasGupta, passed on a vote of 8-0-1 with Commissioner Svirsky abstaining. The full wording of the Council Committee Agenda Request can be viewed here. b. ATXN Staffing Support …
Versión en español a continuación. Regular Meeting of the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission to be held April 14, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (April 13 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the April 14, 2021 Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission Meeting, members of the public must: Call or email the board liaison at 512-974-7676 or jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. Handouts or other information may be emailed to jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission FECHA de la reunion (April 14, 2021) La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (April 13 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en 512-974-7676 or jesse.rodriguez@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. • Una vez que se haya llamado o enviado por …
M E M O R A N D U M Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission TO: THRU: FROM: John Speirs, Program Manager, Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs Jesse Rodriguez, Business Process Specialist, Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs April 14, 2021 2021 Grant for Technology Opportunities (GTOPs) Awardees DATE: SUBJECT: The purpose of this memorandum is to request the Commission approve 1) the GTOPs Grant Review Committee’s recommended eleven (11) 2021 GTOPs Core Awards, as ratified by the Committee at the April 8, 2021 Final Deliberation. GRANT PROGRAM PURPOSE GTOPs provides matching grant funds to Austin organizations that promote resident access to information technology, or that offer literacy programs that create digital opportunities and foster digital inclusion, particularly in underserved segments of our community. The goals of the program are to: ○ Increase use of digital and communications technology devices ○ Increase knowledge and skills of digital and communications technology ○ Increase access to and usage of the Internet AWARDEE SELECTION PROCESS Letters of Interest for 2021 GTOPs Core were accepted from November 1, 2020 through January 8, 2021 and grant applications were accepted from January 18, 2021 through February 12, 2021. The Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission appointed a volunteer Grant Review Committee comprised of seven (7) qualified community representatives, all of whom remained on the committee for the duration of the process. The City received a total of twenty-nine (29) applications for GTOPs 2021 Core. The Committee scored these applications based on the selection criteria outlined by the Commission including: alignment with GTOPs, impact, success/feasibility, and budget and fiscal responsibility. The applicants proceeding to Round 2 scoring were given the opportunity to respond to questions generated by the Committee. After the final scores were tallied and discussed, staff developed recommendations for full and partial awards based on the funding & ranking guidelines as detailed in the next section. The Committee then selected the most preferred option, represented by the recommendation in this memorandum. 1 FUNDING & RANKING GUIDELINES 1) Full and partial awards evaluated for each GTOPs goal area. 2) $300,000 in GTOPs funds available. 3) The minimum amount awarded to any organization is 70% of the requested amount. 4) The highest scores receive the highest awards recommendation. 5) Lower scoring but still above average applicants receive a partial awards recommendation as appropriate. CONSENSUS The Grant Review Committee achieved a majority consensus and all reviewers assigned a similar score to proposals …
