HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 2021-197RESOLUTION NO. 2021-197
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CHULA VISTA ACCCEPTING EMERGENCY
CONNECTIVITY FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $480,000
AND ALLOCATING $144,000 IN PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL
AND GOVERNMENT (PEG) FUNDS, FOR A TOTAL OF
$624,000, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
RENEW THE AGREEMENT WITH T-MOBILE USA TO
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE WIFI HOTSPOT SERVICE TO
DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES
WHEREAS, the immediate move toward distance learning during the COVID-19
pandemic has revealed the disparities in digital access within segments of our communities; and
WHEREAS, with approximately 69,500 students throughout Chula Vista and the shift
toward accessing educational tools and curriculum online, students impacted by the digital divide
are at an increasing disadvantage as access becomes the central barrier to success for school-aged
children; and
WHEREAS, those without access to devices at home must rely on public institutions,
libraries, schools, or community centers for Internet access; and
WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, these resources are not available, making
it essential that the City and education partners pursue other opportunities to support the
community; and
WHEREAS, in May 2020, the city adopted the Digital Equity and Inclusion Plan, and
one of the initiatives cited is the need to improve access to Internet connectivity in the home and
access to functioning devices for students to complete course work; and
WHEREAS, in an effort to support digital inclusion and address the digital divide, staff
recommends the renewal of service for 2,000 WIFI hotspot devices that would be funded from
the available balance of the Public, Education and Government (PEG) Fund and a $480,000
grant from the Federal Communication Commission’s Emergency Connectivity Funding; and
WHEREAS, these devices would be circulated by the Chula Vista Public Library to the
community, with the priority being for students in grades K-6, and would also offer the
community the ability to have access to unlimited data at 150 Mbps speeds with filtering
compliance to the Children’s Internet Protection Act; and
WHEREAS, these devices would circulate for a two-month period (to support families
and students), with an option for renewal and would address immediate need for families and
students within the Chula Vista community; and
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Resolution No. 2021-197
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WHEREAS, one WIFI hotspot device would provide students access to the Internet
without time restrictions and allow connections for up to six devices at a time; and
WHEREAS, by providing more hotspot devices for the public to access, the City would
significantly improve access to the Internet and support digital inclusion while addressing the
educational gap that is created by the digital divide; and
WHEREAS, staff is recommending that funding for this project come from the PEG
access fee provided to the City as a result of the franchises with Cox Cable and AT&T and a
grant from the FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund; and
WHEREAS, PEG funds can be used for capital purchases of facilities, equipment and
services that promote the publication of government information, and have been used by local
governments to provide citizens with access to “other electronic information” about the services
they provide and issues they face, providing information to citizens of an educational nature, and
providing public meeting coverage and, under the terms of federal and state oversight of cable
television franchises, funding for public access to the cable network is available for specific
purposes including installation of infrastructure supportive of Public, Education and Government
access; and
WHEREAS, the FCC's Emergency Connectivity Fund is a $7.17 billion program that will
help schools and libraries provide the tools and services their communities need for remote
learning during the COVID-19 emergency period. ECF will help provide relief to millions of
students, school staff, and library patrons and will help close the Homework Gap for students
who currently lack necessary Internet access or the devices they need to connect to classrooms.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista
that it accepts $480,000 from Emergency Connectivity Funding and allocates $144,000 from
existing PEG funding, for a total of $624,000, increasing the Fiscal Year 2021/22 PEG budget by
up to $650,000; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista that it
authorizes the City Manager to renew an agreement with T-Mobile USA, with such changes as
may be authorized or required by the City Attorney, to continue to provide WIFI hotspot services
to disadvantaged families.
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Resolution No. 2021-197
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Presented by Approved as to form by
Tracy Lamb Glen R. Googins
Director of Community Services City Attorney
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista,
California, this 26th day of October 2021 by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers: Cardenas, Galvez, McCann, and Casillas Salas
NAYS: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Padilla
Mary Casillas Salas, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kerry K. Bigelow, MMC, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO )
CITY OF CHULA VISTA )
I, Kerry K. Bigelow, City Clerk of Chula Vista, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing
Resolution No. 2021-197 was duly passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council at a
regular meeting of the Chula Vista City Council held on the 26th day of October 2021.
Executed this 26th day of October 2021.
Kerry K. Bigelow, MMC, City Clerk
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