TO: Napa County Housing Commission
FROM: Jennifer Palmer, Executive Director
REPORT BY: Alex Carrasco, Project Manager
SUBJECT: Presentation by Napa County ITS on the Broadband Strategic Plan and Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program
RECOMMENDATION
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Presentation by Napa County Information Technology Services (ITS) on the Broadband Strategic Plan and Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The goal of the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program is to fund initiatives that ensure communities have the access and skills to fully participate in the digital world, regardless of their background or circumstances. The grant awards are intended to range from $5 to $12 million dollars and will help key populations including farmworkers with internet literacy training for example. Today’s presentation will highlight the ongoing work by Napa County ITS on the Broadband Strategic Plan and collaboration with North Bay/North Coast Broadband Consortium to apply for the federal funding and help decrease the digital divide.
PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS:
1. Staff report
2. Public comment
3. Discussion
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The 2024 Napa County Farmworker Housing Needs & Impacts Assessment Report (FHNIA) demonstrated the fact that there is a digital divide between those with access to communication technology such as Wi-Fi and those who do not. Only 36% of all survey respondents indicated that they have access to Wi-Fi where they live, and less than a quarter of annually/seasonally returning farmworkers have access to Wi-Fi. The report goes on to list ten (10) opportunities for collective action including improving digital access for farmworkers and their families. FHNIA survey data has garnered the attention of the North Bay/North Coast Broadband Consortium (NBNCBC) whose mission is to ensure the needs for broadband access and adoption are met in every corner of four counties including Marin, Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma. NBNCBC’s top priority and immediate focus is on bringing broadband services to the unserved and underserved areas. Napa County Information Technology staff collaborate with NBNCB, and will present a brief overview of the ongoing effort to apply for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program and help decrease the digital divide.