STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
CC 15
8/27/2024
TN
Date:August 27, 2024
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From:George N. Harris II, Senior Director/Treasurer – Admin Services Subject:Federal Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program Acceptance.
Recommendation:
Authorize the City to enter into a binding agreement with the County of Los Angeles to develop, implement, and assess digital inclusion activities under the Federal Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. Grant the City Manager and their designee the authority to sign the Federal Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program Letter of Commitment and related documents.
G.C. Section 84308:
No
Fiscal Impact:
None
Background:
The County of Los Angeles Intergovernmental Broadband Coordinating Committee (IBCC) would like 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.
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, the City 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. 1 7
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Competitive Grant Program Subrecipient Applicant Digital Equity Need The City will carry out Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities in Lancaster, CA, where 8.7 percent (4,471) total households Citywide do not have an internet subscription, and 3.8 percent (1,980) total households Citywide do not have a computer. Through the funding of the Competitive Grant Program, the City will develop, implement, and evaluate Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities that will address the key digital equity barriers for the following covered populations. The City 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 who are currently or formerly incarcerated Individuals with limited English proficiency
Racial or ethnic communities
Competitive Grant Program Subrecipient Applicant Commitment to Advance Goals The City 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 device access and usage for the covered populations and subpopulations in Los Angeles County
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 (e.g., invoices, mileage tracking spreadsheets, personnel hours tracking spreadsheets, receipts, etc.) for monthly reimbursement to county staff.
Programmatic Tasks
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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
oA 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
oPPE examples include but are not limited to (e.g., disinfecting wipes, face coverings, hand sanitizers, etc.)
oSupplies 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
oMultilingual 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 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
oAlign with existing large and mid-size scale Activities where the covered populations and subpopulations are already gathering
oAlign with existing community and public wraparound resources and services where the covered populations and subpopulations are already coming to receive support
oImplement 10 Broadband Internet and Devices Distribution Outreach, Enrollment, and Adoption Activities over 2 to 3 years
oEveryone On 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
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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
oFree in-person digital literacy and skills training
oFree in-person AI literacy and skills training
oFree virtual technical support services
oFree in-person and virtual digital navigation support services oFree 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
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 The City 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 The City 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 1 7
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$171,996.00 to distribute 400 internet-enabled laptop computers and $153,600.00 to distribute 400 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 The City 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 contributions may include employee or volunteer services, equipment, supplies, indirect costs, computer hardware and software, and facility use. The City is encouraged to provide a 20 percent match to increase the competitiveness of the regional Competitive Grant Program application.
Competitive Grant Program Subrecipient Applicant Period of Performance The Competitive Grant Program period of performance for the City 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
The City 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. The City will notify the County Director of Digital Equity within thirty (30) calendar days in writing of 1) any event that would require the City 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 the City 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. The City must indemnify and hold the County harmless against any and all loss or damage the County and/or the City may suffer arising from any Federal or State government exclusion or suspension of the City 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 centralize 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 Subrecipient Applicants informed of digital inclusion project activity progress.
Attachment:
Letter of Commitment