August 22, 2024
Amanda Hogg
Library Division Manager, Digital Services
City of Burbank | Burbank Public Library
110 N Glenoaks Boulevard
Burbank, CA 91502
RE: Letter of Commitment (LOC) for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program
Dear Amanda Hogg:
On behalf of the County of Los Angeles (County), I want to thank your organization for working with the County Intergovernmental Broadband Coordinating Committee (IBCC) to develop, implement, and evaluate digital inclusion activities with Federal grant funding resources to ensure that communities most in need throughout the Los Angeles County region have equitable access to and use of digital inclusion resources and services to thrive in day-to-day activities. We greatly appreciate your organization’s ongoing collaboration and partnership.
The purpose of thi s Letter of Commitment (LOC) is to establish and confirm a binding commitment with the County and your organization to develop, implement, and evaluate digital inclusion activities as part of the Federal Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program (Competitive Grant Program). The County will serve as the Authorized Representative (primary applicant) and your organization will serve as the Subrecipient Applicant (partner) for the Competitive Grant Program.
Competitive Grant Program Overview
The Competitive Grant Program is a $1.25 billion program that provides Federal funding to support efforts to achieve digital equity, promote digital inclusion activities, and spur greater adoption and use of broadband among the covered populations as defined in the Digital Equity Act (DEA). As a Subrecipient Applicant to the County, if awarded, your organization will receive Competitive Grant Program funding to develop, implement, and evaluate Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities to advance the successful development, implementation, and management of the Competitive Grant Program.
County of Los Angeles
INTERNAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
1100 North Eastern Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90063
MICHAEL OWH
Director Speed. Reliability. Value.
Telephone: (323) 267-2101
FAX: (323) 264-7135
ATTACHMENT 2
Addressee
August 22, 2024
Competitive Grant Program Subrecipient Applicant Digital Equity Need Your organization will carry out Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities in Burbank, CA where 10.1 percent ( 4,399) total households Citywide do not have an internet subscription and 5.6 percent (2,432) total households Citywide do not have a computer. Through the Competitive Grant Program funding, your organization will develop, implement, and evaluate Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities that will address the following key digital equity barriers for the following covered populations . Your organization will reach and serve 400 covered populations with Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities.
Digital Equity Barriers
• Challenging and inaccessible digital inclusion activities, resources, and services • Distrust and mistrust of corporations and government entities • Isolation and distance from digital inclusion activities, resources, and services • Lack of access to digital inclusion activities, resources, and services • Lack of awareness of digital inclusion activities, resources, and services • Lack of reliable digital inclusion activities, resources, and services • Poor quality digital inclusion activities, resources, and services • Unaffordable digital inclusion activities, resources, and services
Covered Populations
• Aging individuals (ages 60 years and up)
• Individuals in households below 150% of the Federal Poverty Line • Individuals with disabilities
• Individuals with limited English proficiency
• Racial or ethnic communities
Competitive Grant Program Subrecipient Applicant Commitment to Advance Goals Your organization will advance the goals of the Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities.
• Increase free broadband internet services access, adoption, and usage for the covered populations and subpopulations in Los Angeles County
• Increase free internet -enabled devices access and usage for the covered populations and subpopulations in Los Angeles County
ATTACHMENT 2
Addressee
August 22, 2024
Competitive Grant Program Subrecipient Applicant Scope of Work Administrative Tasks
• Attend and participate in a virtual Competitive Grant Program Kickoff Meeting (one-time) • Attend and participate in monthly Competitive Grant Program meetings and office hours (ongoing)
• Track and monitor their respective Competitive Grant Program budget and expenditures to ensure activities and spending are within compliance and meet the Grant Program requirements
• Track, compile, and submit Competitive Grant Program financial documents for monthly reimbursement to County staff (e.g., invoices, mileage tracking spreadsheets, personnel hours tracking spreadsheets, receipts, etc.)
Programmatic Tasks
Before the Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities
• Attend and participate in the in -person Digital Equity and Inclusion Capacity -Building Training (one-time)
• Create a Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Implementation Plan
o A detailed implementation plan that outlines key logistics • Obtain the necessary equipment, facilities, personal protective equipment (PPE) , and supplies to develop and implement the Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities
o PPE examples include but are not limited to (e.g., disinfecting wipes, face coverings, hand sanitizers, etc.)
o Supplies examples include but are not limited to (e.g., canopies, chairs, display boards, electrical cords, laptop computers, name tags, tables, tablecloths, Wi -Fi hotspots, etc.)
• Coordinate, receive, and track the internet-enabled mobile hotspots and the internet - enabled laptop computers received from Human-I-T
• Print the Competitive Grant Program multilingual outreach flyers that promote the digital inclusion resources and services and other required forms and documentation needed for the implementation of the Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities
o Multilingual outreach flyers to promote may include:
▪ Free internet-enabled mobile hotspots
▪ Free internet-enabled computing devices
▪ Free in-person digital literacy and skills training
▪ Free in-person AI literacy and skills training
▪ Free virtual technical support services
▪ Free in-person and virtual digital navigation support services ▪ Free in-person and virtual workforce development services ATTACHMENT 2
Addressee
August 22, 2024
During the Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities
• Plan and organize the in-person Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities
o Align with existing large and mid -size scale Activities where the covered populations and subpopulations are already gathering
o Align with existing community and public wraparound resources and services where the covered populations and subpopulations are already coming to receive support
o Implement 10 Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities over 2 to 3 years
o EveryoneOn and Human-I-T teams are available to provide any in-person day of support if needed
• Promote free internet-enabled mobile hotspots and free internet -enabled computing devices to the covered populations and subpopulations who attend the Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities • Complete the Competitive Grant Program Online Intake Form if the covered populations and/or subpopulations have decided to receive free internet-enabled mobile hotspots and/or internet-enabled laptop computers
• Promote additional digital inclusion resources and services to the covered populations and subpopulations such as the following items below while completing the Competitive Grant Program Online Intake Form
o Free in-person digital literacy and skills training
o Free in-person AI literacy and skills training
o Free virtual technical support services
o Free in-person and virtual digital navigation support services o Free in-person and virtual workforce development services • Check off and enroll the covered populations and subpopulations who are interested in the additional digital inclusion resources and services via the Competitive Grant Program Online Intake Form
• Confirm the Competitive Grant Program eligibility and qualifications criteria of each covered population and subpopulation and complete the required forms and documentation to administer the technology
• Administer the technology and the Competitive Grant Program multilingual outreach flyers to the covered populations and subpopulations
• Confirm key next steps with the covered populations and subpopulations to receive the additional digital inclusion resources and services
ATTACHMENT 2
Addressee
August 22, 2024
After the Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities
• Complete the Competitive Grant Program Online Community Outreach and Promotion Reporting Form immediately after each in-person Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Event
Program Monitoring and Evaluation Tasks
• Promote and administer the Competitive Grant Program Online Evaluation Survey (e.g., emails, phone calls) to the covered populations and subpopulations who received the technology during the Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities
• Complete and submit the Competitive Grant Program Online Community Quotes Form to collect direct quotes from the covered populations and subpopulations who received the technology during the Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities
• Complete and submit the Competitive Grant Program Online Community Success Stories Form to collect direct success stories from the covered populations and subpopulations who received the technology during the Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities
Competitive Grant Program Subrecipient Applicant Resources Your organization must allocate the appropriate equipment, facilities, personnel, supplies, etc. to develop, implement, and evaluate the Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities.
Competitive Grant Program Subrecipient Applicant Funding Allocation Your organization will receive a total of $425,596.00 to develop, implement, and evaluate the Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities.
This includes $171,996.00 to distribute 400 internet -enabled laptop computers and $153,600.00 to distribute internet-enabled mobile hotspots with 12 months of free subsidized broadband internet service to the covered populations . This also includes $ 100,000.00 to develop, implement, and evaluate the Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities. This funding allocated will be dedicated equally amongst covered population groups.
Competitive Grant Program Subrecipient Applicant Funding Match Requirement Your organization is expected to provide a 10 percent match of cash contributions or in -kind contributions of property, goods, or services for the $425,596.00 funding allocation. Examples of in -kind contri butions may include employee or volunteer services, equipment, supplies, indirect costs, computer hardware and software, and use of facilities . Your organization is encouraged to provide a 20 percent match to increase the competitiveness of the regional Competitive Grant Program application.
ATTACHMENT 2
Addressee
August 22, 2024
Competitive Grant Program Subrecipient Applicant Period of Performance The Competitive Grant Program period of performance for your organization will begin either in later calendar year 2025 or early calendar year 2026 through the end of calendar 2028. This includes calendar year 2029 for the Competitive Grant Program evaluation.
Competitive Grant Program Subrecipient Applicant Good Standing Status with Federal and State Funding Agencies
Your organization as a Subrecipient Applicant hereby warrants that neither it nor any of its staff members are restricted, excluded, or suspended from providing goods or services under any broadband-related programs funded by the Federal and State government, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part. Your organization will notify the County Director of Digital Equity within thirty (30) calendar days in writing of 1) any event that would require your organization or a staff member's mandatory exclusion or suspension from participation in a Federal or State government broadband-related funding programs; and 2) any exclusionary action taken by any agency of the Federal or State government against your organization or one or more staff members barring it or the staff members from participation in a Federal or State funded broadband-related programs, whether such bar is direct or indirect, or whether such bar is in whole or in part. Your organization must indemnify and hold the County harmless against any and all loss or damage the County and/or your organization may suffer arising from any Federal or State government exclusion or suspension of your organization or its staff members from such participation in Federal or State broadband-related funding programs.
Competitive Grant Program Subrecipient Applicant Technical Assistance, Training, and Support Resources
As the Authorized Representative, the County will streamline and cent ralize a Countywide Competitive Grant Program administration and management process where County staff will serve as the primary Competitive Grant Program administrator and manager for all Subrecipient Applicants. This includes organizing and implementing monthly Competitive Grant Program meetings and office hours for the Subrecipient Applicants to track deliverables, equity indicators, lessons learned, milestones, outcomes, outputs, and keep the Sub recipient Applicants informed of digital inclusion project activity progress.
Competitive Grant Program Subrecipient Applicant Partnership Agreement Please be advised that this binding LOC is contingent upon the successfu l Competitive Grant Program funding award to the County as the Authorized Representative and primary applicant.
Your commitment to serving as a Subrecipient Applicant to develop, implement, and evaluate Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities for the duration of the period of performance and evaluation period. The County will you’re your informed of key Competitive Grant Program activities and progress.
ATTACHMENT 2
Addressee
August 22, 2024
The LOC is exec uted by both the County as the Authorized Representative and the City of Burbank as the Subrecipient Applicant as a bidding agreement upon receiving the signatures below.
_________________________________________________
Rebecca F. Kauma
Director of Digital Equity
Internal Services Department (ISD)
County of Los Angeles
[Insert County Staff Signature]
[Insert Date]
_________________________________________________
Melissa Potter
Interim Library Services Director
City of Burbank
Library Services Department
[Insert Date]
Contact Information
The County looks forward to collaborating with your organization to develop, implement, and evaluate digital inclusion activities as part of the Competitive Grant Program funding opportunity. The County is confident that your organization’s efforts will successfully advance digital equity and inclusion Countywide and within your respective city/community through collective intergovernmental and cross-sector regional coordination.
Feel free to contact Rebecca F. Kauma at [email protected] if your organization has any follow-up questions regarding the LOC and/or the Competitive Grant Program.
Respectfully,
Rebecca F. Kauma
Director of Digital Equity
Internal Services Department (ISD)
County of Los Angeles
[email protected]
ATTACHMENT 2