COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

County Manager’s Office

 

DATE:

October 22, 2010

BOARD MEETING DATE:

November 2, 2010

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

David S. Boesch, County Manager

SUBJECT:

County Manager’s Report #12

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution in support of Get Connected! and promoting broadband technology.

 

BACKGROUND:

The Internet helps businesses, organizations and individuals provide and obtain information as well as services. A high-speed Internet connection generally referred to as “broadband,” saves time and money, increases productivity in the economy, and reduces impacts on the environment. Broadband is becoming crucial for jobs, education, health care, communication, entertainment, emergency services and essential 21st century infrastructure. Those who lack access are quickly going to be left behind in the digital world.

 

Despite the value of broadband, differential access and use among socio-economic population groups exists, commonly referred to as the “Digital Divide.” The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has found that a total of 80 million Americans do not subscribe to broadband services at home. Some reasons for this include the lack of this infrastructure in rural and remote areas, the cost of broadband, or these individuals have not yet found a reason to have it.

 

There are substantial differences among population groups and regions in the use of broadband in California: only 39 percent of Latino families, 30 percent of lower-income households, and 47 percent of people with disabilities have a broadband connection at home compared to 62 percent of all adults statewide and 89 percent of all higher-income households. These facts are a major concern for California’s future global competitiveness.

 

DISCUSSION:

The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) is a non-profit corporation that provides statewide leadership to close the “Digital Divide” by accelerating the deployment and adoption of broadband to underserved communities and populations in California. CETF has launched the Get Connected! campaign to raise overall awareness about the benefits of broadband. This campaign includes an advocacy effort to secure California’s fair share of broadband technology funds from the Federal government.

 

Your Board’s support of Get Connected! when added to the County’s involvement with Broadband Technologies Opportunities Program will provide additional opportunities to increase broadband access in the County.

 

Approval of this resolution contributes to the Shared Vision of 2025 of a Collaborative Community by adopting policies that promote the closing of the “Digital Divide” and securing more broadband technology funding. The Resolution has been reviewed and approved as to form by County Counsel.

 

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2008-09
Actual

FY 2009-10
Projected

Federal/State Measures analyzed and acted on

25

35

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

None.