Reliable and Affordable Broadband Internet for All

For Next Century Cities Presentation

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July 2021

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Created in 1979 by the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. In 2002 became a stand alone 501(C)(3)

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Mission

• Leadership Austin seeks out and prepares leaders for positions of public and private decision-making, and fosters community involvement and the exercise of civic responsibility.

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Vision

• Leadership Austin convenes leaders to provide leadership development and collaborative opportunities to strengthen and transform our communities.

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Values

• Community Trusteeship | Inclusiveness | Collaborative Decision Making | Personal Responsibility

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Benefits of Having a Fellow

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• External and fresh perspective
• Not on the City Staff, has lens from the business and community
• Experienced professional with proven track record and senior executive expertise
• Expand networks and resources for the city
• Builds bridges for the city with the region
• It has no power within the structure, but has influence - advise, guide, clarify, connect, influence - does not compete internally for resources or “turf”

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The Selection Process

• Leadership Austin manages the process of interviews
• The experienced executive applies for the Leadership Austin fellowship
• The city submits project proposal
• The fellow candidate and the City review and select three project proposals and three candidates for the interview.
• The City and the fellow candidate rank order their top three choices.
• A match is made (in heaven!)
• The term is for one-year of service
• A very small stipend is offered to the Fellow by Leadership Austin

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From the fellows perspective

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• One-year high-impact, community-focused project
• Successful onboarding, assigned staff time and resources
• Due to the magnitude of the project, City realized that 10-12 hours a week for the project would not be sufficient and committed more time and resources.
• Inter-departmental support and resources for the fellowship
• Staff support - stakeholder meeting scheduling, notes, sharing of insights, debriefing and the assignment of Vista volunteers.
• One year project with option to renew.

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Skills and Background

• Vision and leadership capacity to enact change
• Strategic problem solver
• Collaborative team member
• Advanced communication and listening skills to understand the issues
• Big picture thinker
• Understands the realities of change management in an ambiguous and changing environment
• Detached from any preconceived ideas or solutions
• Adaptive to the emerging and rapid needs of a changing environment
• Advisor, mentor, coach
• Able to bring clarity, amplify coherence, and promote and build areas of collaboration.

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Where Are We Now? Six Months In...

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• Moved City from implementation of existing programs to a much broader strategy
• Amplified the awareness and reach of the work so more folks are at the table
• Brought needed capacity to the functioning of the city and elevated city’s internal work
• Held a vision for what is possible and amplified partnerships
• Brought professionalism and expertise
• City departments collaborating and supporting the fellowship - Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs, Economic Development Department, Communications & Technology Department, Center for Excellence and Innovation, Community Engagement Division in Communication and Public Information Office, Austin Public Health, Austin Public Library, Austin Parks and Recreations, among others.

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How we got here

• Insights from Lived Experience of Austin residents from CTTC Special Conversation in 2020
• Goal of the Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission Work Plan
• Experience from Previous City-supported projects & COA Digital Inclusion Strategic Plan
• Impact from COVID-19 Virtual Pivot
• Application to Leadership Austin and funded by St. David's Foundation (THANK YOU!)

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Results of inputs:

• Khotan Harmon named LA Digital Inclusion Fellow
• Framed out the goals and inquiry areas for the project
• Aligned current City program staff to support Fellow and coordinated activities underway for project
• Identified initial stakeholders to engage in project

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Project scope: Reliable and Affordable Broadband for All

Project Goals:

Our community needs a fellow to assess, identify and develop viable longer-term solutions to address the problem of digital equity to ensure reliable, affordable broadband for all. The availability of the internet is critical to participate in a growing digital society and to provide equitable, educational, job and economic opportunities and access to healthcare.

Deliverables:

Report #1: Community asset mapping and survey of existing data on the mapping and speed of private broadband infrastructure and reasons for barriers to broadband adoption.

Report #2 - Feasibility Plan based on models and best practices nationally that could be offered as a possible solution in Austin for affordable reliable broadband for all in Austin.

Stakeholder engagement - Reactivated, engaged and collaborating cross-sector of stakeholders in a wide-reaching and community-wide effort.

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So, WHAT is the problem and WHERE does it exist?

95% of Austin residents use the internet at home -- but this number masks disparities between communities and levels of access.

According to the data, the communities that tend to face the highest barriers to digital access:

• Communities of color
• Low income individuals and families
• Older adults
• Limited English Proficiency
• People with disabilities

Smartphone use is widespread. But device gaps exist for education, employment, and health uses.

Affordability and skills gaps are the primary barriers for people who do not use the internet.

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Source: Local residential survey of technology access, 2018

Survey respondents without a home internet connection, 2018

Some questions we are exploring...

• How do broadband availability, quality, speed, and cost vary across Austin?
• How are existing services working or not working for residents? What community needs are not addressed by existing services?
• What types of challenges residents have experienced from COVID: Bandwidth limitations, device limitations. What changes have residents made to cope with COVID-19? Are these challenges short-term or long-term -- I.e., resolved when COVID is over, or not?

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Official data says Austin is well served with internet infrastructure and providers. But this hides the true story.

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Source: BroadbandNOW (FCC data self-reported by Internet Service Providers)

How do we

identify, reach and engage

Austinites who are most isolated from the resources and services of the City?

Central Driving Question:

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Exploring Sustainable Cross-Sector Solutions

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Government

Resources and Stewardship

Community

Project Leadership

Business

Critical to Sustainable Solutions

Social Service Sector

Service Delivery Expertise

Academic & Technical Institutions

Data driven process, product, and ROI

Community Tech & Telecom Commission

A Common Vision: Align with City Council priorities for relief and recovery

Outlined in Resolution No. 20210325-111 (March 25, 2021)

• Homelessness, and related housing, mental health, and substance abuse issues
• Early childhood care and education that is high quality and affordable
• Jobs for working class Austinites that include good wages, benefits, and workplace protections, and associated workforce development and work programs
• Food and housing insecurity

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Five Pillars of Sustainable Digital Inclusion Solution

Key drivers of inclusion and outcomes include:

1. Affordability - competition in pricing, affordability, bulk purchase, etc.
2. Internet connectivity - ubiquitous reliable and high-quality internet connection
3. Devices - appropriate devices for appropriate use and age
4. Training - training and skill development on the devices that are language and age appropriate
5. IT Support - continued digital accompaniment and digital navigation post-training to ensure full adoption, use and mastery of devices.

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A 3-horizon view of the challenge and solutions

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Short term

1-3 years

Medium term

3-5 years

Long term

5-10 years

HORIZON 1. ADDRESS IMMEDIATE NEEDS

HORIZON 2. BRIDGE THE GAPS

HORIZON 3. LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

Khotan Harmon

2021 Leadership Austin Digital Inclusion Fellow

With the City of Austin (TARA)

khotan.harmon@austintexas.gov

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Thank You!

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