HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-147Resolution
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING
THE CALIFORNIA EMERGING TECHNOLOGY FUND
AND THE Get Connected! PROGRAM
WHEREAS, closing the Digital Divide is vital to the economic prosperity and quality of
life for residents in Butte County and throughout California; and
WHEREAS, Butte County finds and declares that high-speed Internet access-referred to
generically as broadband and including both wireline and wireless technologies-is essential 21st
Century infrastructure in a digital world and global economy; and
WHEREAS, Butte County recognizes that California is home to a wellspring of innovation
that has given rise to the evolution of broadband and other information technologies, however
Californians' adoption and use of broadband technology is only approximately equivalent to the
national average; and
WHEREAS, Butte County acknowledges that 38% of all Californians, 40% oflow-income
households, and the majority of residents in the unincorporated areas of the County are not
connected to the Internet with broadband, leaving more than 14 million Californians without high-
speed Internet access at home; and
WHEREAS, Butte County is committed to helping families anal children be healthy,
productive and self sufficient and realizes that the use of broadband can save both time and money
for residents while helping them bridge the economic divide; and
WHEREAS, Butte County is committed to helping students obtain the highest-quality
education possible incorporating digital literacy and understands that high-speed Internet
connectivity and the availability of computing devices both at school and at home are critical
teaching and learning tools for academic achievement; and
WHEREAS, Butte County is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and recognizes that
broadband is a strategic "green" technology that decreases greenhouse gas emissions and
dependence on foreign oil by enabling e-government and the provision of more services online; and
WHEREAS, Butte County is committed to Digital Inclusion and increasing citizen
participation in the public process through expanded engagement using broadband; and
WHEREAS, Butte County welcomes the opportunity to partner with the California
Emerging Technology Fund along with the Governor, Legislature, other Iocal governments, civic
.`
WHEREAS, Butte County welcomes the opportunity to partner with the California
Emerging Technology Fund along with the Governor, Legislature, other local governments, civic
leaders, community organizations, employers, labor representatives, educators, and policymakers to
encourage adoption of broadband technology.
NOW, THEREFORE, SE IT RESOLVED that Butte County hereby joins with the
California Emerging Technology Fund in launching and promoting Get Connected! --~-a public
awareness program to ckose the Digital Divide-and declares 2010 as a target year for all residents,
businesses and communty organizations to Get Connected!; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Butte County Board of Supervisors directs the
County Administrative Officer and other appropriate departments to determine how to optimize the
use of broadband technology to inform and engage residents to increase citizen participation in the
public processes of governance and expand Digital Inclusion; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Butte County Board of Supervisors will seek to
cooperate and share the results of Get Connected! with neighboring jurisdictions and other public
agencies and shall post this resolution on the Butte County website and send a copy to the Butte
County Association of Governments far appropriate distribution to other local governments; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Butte County Board of Supervisors authorize the
use of their names as champions of Get Connected! on the websites of the California Emerging
Technology Fund (www.CETFund.org and www.GetConnectedToda .com) and in printed
materials pertaining to Get Connected!
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Butte County Board of Supervisors this 26~h day of
October 201.0 by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Dolan, Ka.rk; Lambert
Yamaguchi znd Chair Connell,
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
NOT VOTING: Node
ATTEST:
Paul Hahn, Chief inistrative Officer
and Clerlc th d f Supervisors
By:
uty
Bill Connelly, Chair