STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Government Performance and Financial Management
AGENDA DATE: December 9, 2020
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): N/A
DEPARTMENT: Office of Equity and Inclusion
EXECUTIVE: M. Elizabeth Cedillo-Pereira
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SUBJECT
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Authorize an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with Dallas Independent School District and the City of Dallas to share in the cost of procuring private cellular network services for the period December 9, 2020 through December 30, 2020 - Not to exceed $500,000.00 - Financing: U.S. Department of Treasury - Coronavirus Relief Funds
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BACKGROUND
The City of Dallas (City) recognizes that having access to the internet is critical for families and individuals, and the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified this need. While practicing social distancing and dealing with the closures of many businesses and social services, internet access helps families and individuals conduct a wide range of activities, from schoolwork, to job searching, to seeking health care, to paying bills. In the 2016 United States Census Bureau American Community Survey, Dallas was identified as one of the major United States cities with the highest percentage of households (42.3%) with no fixed internet access.
Closing the digital gap for Dallas residents means that residents have access to high speed internet and that all residents are connected to the internet.
- Internet access is central to increasing economic mobility and that 60-70% of total job openings are posted online
- Lack of internet access disproportionately impacts low-income families and students of color.
In March 2020, Dallas Independent School District (DISD) initiated Operation Connectivity recognizing that students need robust and reliable home Internet to facilitate asynchronous or "virtual" learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The Operation Connectivity working group analyzed data and identified the ten most highly impacted ...
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