HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-17-20; 6-d - Orange County Broadband Task Force 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: November 17, 2020
Action Agenda
Item No. 6-d
SUBJECT: Orange County Broadband Task Force
DEPARTMENT: County Manager
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Orange County Broadband Task Force Bonnie Hammersley, County Manager
Composition 919-245-2306
PURPOSE: To consider a charge and composition for the proposed Orange County Broadband
Task Force.
BACKGROUND: At the September 1, 2020 Board of Orange County Commissioners business
meeting a petition was submitted by Commissioner McKee to create an Orange County
Broadband Task Force. Stakeholders would include the County Manager, Information
Technology Department Director, a representative from the North Carolina Department of
Information Technology (NCDIT), Orange County Schools Superintendent, Chapel Hill Carrboro
City Schools Superintendent and Community members living in the unincorporated areas of
Orange County who are underserved, including those with an interest in resolving the digital divide
in Orange County.
The Task Force charge will include but not necessarily limited to:
1. Discuss broadband solutions that will improve the quality of high speed internet services
to Orange County residents;
2. Recommend a plan to the Board of Orange County Commissioners that will expand reliable
high-speed internet services to all county residents and businesses.
Pending Board action on the Orange County Broadband Task Force, the Clerk to the Board will
advertise for residents to apply for potential appointment to the Task Force.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The financial impact will be determined based on whether the Board
directs staff to contract with a facilitator for the Task Force meetings.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: GOAL: ENABLE FULL CIVIC PARTICIPATION
Ensure that Orange County residents are able to engage government through voting and
volunteering by eliminating disparities in participation and barriers to participation.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no environmental impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss and review the
charge detailed above and the attached proposed composition for the orange County Broadband
Task Force and provide direction to staff.
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ORANGE COUNTY BROADBAND TASK FORCE — PROPOSED COMPOSITION
Position Special Representation Appointee
1 County Manager (Designee)
2 Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools
Superintendent (Designee)
3 Orange County Schools
Superintendent (Designee)
4 NC Department of Information
Technology (NCDIT) Representative
5 Board of Commissioners — 2
6
7 Orange County Resident— At Large
8 Orange County Resident—At Large
9 Orange County Resident— At Large
10 Orange County Resident— At Large
11 Orange County Resident— At Large
Technical Support:
• Information Technology Department Director