Title
Community Wireless Network (Digital Divide Cooperative Network) Intergovernmental Agreement - Amendment (Ordinance S-48870)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to amend Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) 154496 with Phoenix Union High School District, its participating public elementary feeder schools and Maricopa County Community Colleges District (the Parties) to add $12 million to continue building the community wireless network, now known as the Digital Education Connection Canopy (DECC) project. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding is available through the City’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding received from the federal government and is under the Citywide Wireless Network Project and Partnership with Phoenix Union program.
Report
Summary
On May 14, 2020, the City Council approved $2 million from the City's allocation of federal Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) to broaden Citywide Wi-Fi. Shortly thereafter, a core public and private group came together to discuss long-term solutions for the digital divide in Phoenix. Members of the core group included the City of Phoenix, Phoenix College (PC), Phoenix Union High School District (PUHSD), the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and the Arizona Commerce Authority. This group has been working together since that time.
The digital divide is defined as the economic, education, and social inequalities between those who have computers and online access, and those who do not. As reported at the Oct. 27, 2020 City Council Policy meeting, many areas of the country have little or no access/connection to the internet, including areas in the City of Phoenix and throughout Arizona. Even when there is internet availability, economic barriers prevent many residents from accessing the internet. As the working group presented to the City Council, the gap in the digital divide has become wider and wider during the COVID-19 pandemic. Households with internet connection have the opportunity to continue their children's education at home during times when schools are closed. Coming out of the pandemic, and as schools are opening again, that gap remains. Students with connectivity can continue with a robust hybrid learning program and complete their online homework in their homes, while students without connectivity struggle with completing work assignments and must go to a public location to access the internet.
On Dec. 16, 2020, the City Council approved the IGA to identify and create digital divide solutions for underserved areas. Since approval of the initial $2 million, the team has successfully installed and conducted testing at several beta-sites within the broader proposed area of service for viability. The beta-test sites included the PC campus, Maryvale High School, the PUHSD offices, and their respective staff and students. Data collected during this process gave the partnership positive feedback and critical data on user experience and overall use of the system. In 2021, the City Council allocated $10 million of the City's first tranche of ARPA funds to expand the DECC beyond the beta-site testing, starting with a four-square mile Proof of Concept (POC) area to connect more than 1,000 students who otherwise would not have reliable internet access at home. This POC area includes the Cartwright Elementary and Alhambra School districts, as well as Phoenix College. This area has students and families, as well as staff, utilizing the DECC for schoolwork and is reporting great success. Utilizing the $10 million ARPA allocation, the DECC installation is now moving into other unserved and underserved areas of Phoenix over the summer.
It is important to note the DECC is not meant as a pandemic solution, but rather a long-term equitable solution for the families of Phoenix. No longer will students in underserved areas have to wait until they can connect at a library, community center or some other WiFi location away from home to do their homework. These students will be able to connect in their homes, without having to leave to find internet connection.
Staff requests to amend the IGA with the Parties to add an additional $12 million in ARPA funds to expand the digital divide throughout the PUHSD service area.
Contract Term
The IGA term began April 1, 2021, and ends June 30, 2025, with one five-year renewal option.
Financial Impact
Total funding for the IGA, as amended, will not exceed $24 million. This includes the initial $2 million allocation of federal CRF, the first ARPA allocation of $10 million, and this second request for ARPA funding in the amount of $12 million. There is no impact to the General Fund as this funding is available through the City's allocation of ARPA funds.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The City Council:
- Allocated $2 million from Coronavirus Relief Funds to address the digital divide on May 14, 2020;
- Approved IGA 154496 (Ordinance S-47201) on Dec. 16, 2020;
- Allocated $10 million in ARPA funds to continue building the community wireless network project on June 8, 2021;
- Approved amending IGA 154496 (S-47962) on Sept. 15, 2021;
- Allocated $12 million in ARPA funds to further expand the community wireless network project on June 7, 2022.
Location
Council Districts: 4, 5, 7, and 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Managers Ginger Spencer and Inger Erickson and the Community and Economic Development and Information Technology Services departments.