RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF GET CONNECTED! AND PROVIDING BROADBAND TECHNOLOGY TO ALL CALIFORNIANS

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, closing the Digital Divide is vital to the economic prosperity and quality of life for residents in San Mateo County and throughout California; and

WHEREAS, access and use of high-speed Internet—referred to generically as “broadband” and including both wireline and wireless technologies is becoming critical for jobs, education, health care, communication, entertainment, and emergency services; and

WHEREAS, California is a home to a wellspring of innovation that has given rise to the evolution of broadband and other information technologies, however Californians’ adoption and use of broadband technology is only approximately equivalent to the national average; and

WHEREAS, in California, substantial differences among population groups and regions in the use of broadband exist, such that only 39 percent of Latino families, 30 percent of lower-income households, and 47 percent of people with a disability have broadband compared to 62 percent of all adults statewide and 89 percent of all higher-income households. Additionally, many rural and remote communities have no access at all; and

WHEREAS, the use of broadband can save both time and money for residents while helping them bridge the economic divide; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors is committed to Digital Inclusion and increasing citizen participation in the public process through expanded engagement using broadband and the County’s own Broadband Technologies Opportunities Program; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors recognizes that it has the opportunity to impact broadband deployment and adoption in its several local government roles and responsibilities, including as a policy leader, planning body, land use approval agency, and purchaser-consumer of communications equipment and information technology; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors will advocate for California to receive its fair share of funding for any Federal funds that are available to help provide Americans with access to broadband services; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors welcomes the opportunity to partner with the California Emerging Technology Fund along with the Governor, Legislature, other local governments, civic leaders, community organizations, employers, labor representatives, educators, and policymakers to encourage adoption of broadband technology.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND ORDERED that the Board of Supervisors by the adoption of this Resolution hereby joins with the California Emerging Technology Fund in promoting Get Connected!—a public awareness program to close the Digital Divide.

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