Department: Universal Services
Department Head/Elected Official: Sindhu Menon, Executive Director and Chief Information Officer
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant
Project ID (if applicable):
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable):
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Universal Services for approval to submit an application to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for grant funds not exceeding $12,000,000, with a 10 percent local in-kind match in the amount of $1,200,000, for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program.
end
Background and Discussion:
In September of 2024, NTIA released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. This grant opportunity supports efforts to achieve digital equity, promote digital inclusion activities, and spur greater adoption and meaningful use of broadband among the following service populations:
• Individuals in Households under 150% poverty threshold
• Aging individuals
• Incarcerated individuals
• Veterans
• Individuals with disabilities
• Individuals with a language barrier (English learners, or low literacy)
• Individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group
Harris County requests approval to pursue the Digital Equity Competitive Grant administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for Universal Services to fund the Harris County Digital Navigator Program and expand public access labs to increase digital access services among County residents.
Harris County will also use the grant funds to onboard trainers to empower constituents to build out their own community wireless networks with Harris County Public Library serving as the connection to the internet for these community wireless networks. Trainers and fiber connectivity for precinct community centers will be accommodated for any precinct that wishes to participate. Universal Services is engaged with precincts to determine good candidate resources to meet the 10 percent local in-kind match required.
Expected Impact: Approval will allow the County to promote digital skills, enable technology parity in broadband Community Anchor Institutions, expand connectivity, and digital access services.
Alternative Options: None. This is the only source of funding that NTIA will make available to promote digital equity and inclusion efforts by local governments.
Alignment with Goal(s):
_ Justice and Safety
x Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
_ Public Health
_ Transportation
_ Flooding
_ Environment
x Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
November 30, 2022 |
154 |
Passed |
|
April 25, 2023 |
184 |
Passed |
|
June 6, 2023 |
179 |
Passed |
|
July 18, 2023 |
399 |
Passed |
|
July 18, 2023 |
400 |
Passed |
Location:
Address (if applicable): 1310 Prairie St., Houston, TX 77002
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Digital Equity Competitive Grant |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Other (Match funds/in-kind) |
$804,000 |
$396,000 |
$1,200,000 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Current Budget |
$804,000 |
$396,000 |
$1,200,000 |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Grant |
$8,040,000 |
$3,960,000 |
$12,000,000 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$8,040,000 |
$3,960,000 |
$12,000,000 |
$ |
|
Total Funding Request |
$8,844,000 |
$4,356,000 |
$13,200,000 |
$ |
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anticipated Court Date: 09/19
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): N/A.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item.
Contact(s) name, title, department: Sindhu Menon, Executive Director and Chief Information Officer, Universal Services.
Attachments (if applicable):