Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Technology to accept a grant totaling $200,000.00 from the Federal Communications Commission on behalf of Smart Columbus. These grant funds will be used to reimburse Smart Columbus for outreach efforts related to their digital equity program.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established the Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program to provide eligible partners with grant funds to conduct outreach in support of the Affordable Connectivity Program. Earlier this year, the City of Columbus, Department of Technology applied for these grant funds on behalf of Smart Columbus. The FCC awarded $200,000.00 of the total $445,820.00 requested. The City has also committed an additional $140,000.00 for this effort.
The City of Columbus is committed to ensuring digital equity for all our residents and visitors. This funding is meant to help our most underserved community members in gaining access to affordable internet services, and to empower them with the knowledge and resources they need to realize the full potential of this access.
The above-referenced funding is supplemental to Smart Columbus’ existing digital equity expenditures, which will be expended during the period of performance for this grant. It is also supplemental to the labor cost-sharing commitments made by our Digital Equity Coalition partners for this initiative.
Second, this ordinance authorizes entering into a sub-recipient agreement with Smart Columbus for the above-described purpose.
This ordinance also authorizes the appropriation of $200,000.00 to the general government grants fund, subfund yet to be determined, for use.
Finally, this ordinance also authorizes the total expenditure of $340,000.00 to reimburse Smart Columbus as appropriate; $200,000.00 from the above-referenced grant and $140,000.00 from the Department of Technology, Information Services operating fund, as committed by the City.
EMERGENCY
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