DATE:
July 16, 2024
08
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
AMEND PO#566069 AT&T WIFI SERVICES (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
On October 25, 2021, the San Diego County Library (SDCL or County Library) was awarded $4.3 million from the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program to provide equipment and wireless internet service to patrons who have limited access to the internet and internet-enabled devices. Under Board Authority 09-14-21 (4), $1.4 million of the $4.3 million was designated and used to purchase 7,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot devices with corresponding data services. The remaining amount was used to purchase 7,000 Google Chromebooks. The County Library bundled the 7,000 Google Chromebooks and 7,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots into what the Library called, "Tech Connect" kits for distribution. Devices were made available to members of the public with a library card to check out free of charge for up to one year. In May of 2023, SDCL added an additional 2,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot devices with data services under BOS 05-23-23 (28), bringing the total amount of devices to 9,000. The ECF program is one of many ways the County works toward closing the digital divide.
Distribution of the Tech Connect kits began on June 15, 2022, throughout the 33 County branch library locations. To ensure that the Tech Connect kits are distributed equitably amongst communities with no access or limited access to internet-enabled devices and broadband services, SDCL and its respective branches have collaborated with more than 100 community-based organizations, tribal reservations, and county-wide partners such as Aging & Independence Services, Department of Child Support Services, and Library High School, where adults can earn their high school diploma online. County residents can also check-out Tech Connect kits at their local County branch library. The County Library closely monitors the check-out data of the Tech Connect kits an...
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