Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupport - CETF "Get Connected"CITY OF PALM DESERT OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER STAFF REPORT REQUEST: ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT DECLARING ITS SUPPORT FOR THE CALIFORNIA EMERGING TECHNOLOGY FUND'S (CETF) GET CONNECTED! PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN SUBMITTED BY: Stephen Y. Aryan, Assistant to the City Manager DATE: March 11, 2010 CONTENTS: Resolution No. 2010-11 Get Connected! Fact Sheet Recommendation By Minute Motion: 1. Waive further reading and adopt. 2. Authorize the City Manager to send correspondence to the California Emerging Technology Fund indicating the City of Palm Desert's support of the Get Connected! public awareness and education campaign to improve broadband access within California. 3. Authorize the California Emerging Technology Fund to list the City of Palm Desert City Council as champions of the Get Connected! Program in their various communication materials. Background The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) requested cities throughout California support its Get Connected! statewide public awareness program. This campaign strives to educate targeted populations about the economic and social benefits of broadband connectivity. The CETF aims to remove barriers and address misperceptions that may exist, by increasing awareness of the value of broadband access Staff Report Resolution -Get Connected! Program March 11, 2010 Page 2 of 2 The City of Palm Desert can indicate its support of the Get Connected! program by adopting a resolution advocating this endeavor and permitting the CETF to list the City Council as champions of this cause, within its various communications materials. Staff recommends approval of this resolution supporting the Get Connected! campaign. Fiscal Analysis There is no fiscal impact associated with approving this resolution. Submitted By: Steph n Y. Aryan, Assis . nt to the City Manager Approval: M.'Wohlmuth, City Manager CITY COUNCIL ACTION APPROVED :// DENIED RECEIVED OTHER A-14X cd MEETING DATE t L - C o AYES: F'.. 1)50, t errjadn.KP tv/9)/ .wr+l Pine(ty NOES: /b ABSENT: tn- ABSTAIN: MCII040/1 VERIFIED BY: i'r) Original on File with City 1erk's Office RESOLUTION NO. 2010-11 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA AS FOLLOWS: 1. That the City of Palm Desert Hereby joins with the California Emerging Technology Fund in launching and promoting Get Connected! -a public awareness program to close the Digital Divide -and declares 2010 as a target year for all residents, businesses, and community organization to Get Connected! 2. That the Palm Desert City Council authorizes the use of their names as champions of Get Connected! on the websites of the California Emerging Technology Fund (www.CETFund.org and www.GetConnectedToday.com) and in printed materials pertaining to Get Connected! PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 11 th day of March 2010, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: CINDY FINERTY, MAYOR ATTEST: RACHELLE D. KLASSEN, CITY CLERK CITY OF PALM DESERT CONNECTED! Your Life Mode Easier FACT SHEET Get Connected! Get Connected! is a comprehensive statewide public awareness program, first unveiled in Los Angeles County, that educates targeted populations about the economic and social benefits of broadband connectivity. The program aims to break down barriers and address misperceptions that perpetuate the Digital Divide that currently exists in California. The program will increase awareness of the value of broadband through an array of communication vehicles, including a multilingual Web portal for new users (www.GetConnectedToday.com) ,TV and radio commercials, and Community Connect Fairs that provide hands-on experience with broadband. The program also includes Champions for Access, which are organizations across a variety of industry sectors that sponsor and fund Get Connected! initiatives. Broadband Benefits • Broadband high-speed Internet saves time and makes an individual's life easier by giving him/her instant access to what he/she needs — communication, information, and services. • Using broadband high-speed Internet helps stretch dollars. • Individuals can get ahead in their career and in life with high-speed Internet. Target Populations Launched by the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), the program is aimed at reaching low- income Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans and non -Hispanic whites. Priority communities include rural and remote areas, disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, and people with disabilities. Broadband At Home U.S. AR Calilotniiarrs Latinos 34% Low Income* 33% Rural W;Hr Disability 36% Los Angeles Metro 55% 55% 51% 48% All percentages apply to California except the I1S. percentage. "Californians with under $40.000 Annual Household Income California Emerging Technology Fund CETF provides leadership statewide to minimize the Digital Divide by accelerating the deployment and adoption of broadband and other advanced communication services to unserved and underserved communities. The organization invests in programs and projects to improve access, affordability, applications, accessibility and assistance to broadband — ultimately, to increase broadband adoption in California by 10% in 2010. California's Digital Divide Although the deployment and adoption of broadband technology is steadily increasing across the nation and within California, there persists a pattern of differential access and use among socio-economic population groups — this reality is referred to as the "Digital Divide" and is a major concern for California's future global competitiveness. Computer and broadband use by Californians is only on par with the national average — at 55% for broadband connection at home and 75% for computer use. More than 17 million Californians are without broadband connection and more than 13 million are without Internet connection at home. For more information, please contact Luis Arteaga at luis.arteaga@cetfund.org or 415.744.2388.