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13 <br /> Information Technologies <br /> • Information Technologies, Pg. 388 <br /> o Total expenditure budget - $3,328,135 <br /> o Software maintenance and licenses - $160,824 <br /> — Negotiating multi-year contracts when available and produce <br /> stability, predictability and cost savings <br /> • Non-Departmental, Pg. 422 <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said there is a bill in the legislature on how technology is <br /> distributed by tower, and there is talk to put technology appendages on power poles. He said <br /> he would like there to be an analysis on this issue, especially as the County is considering the <br /> building of several large towers. <br /> Commissioner McKee asked if there is anything in the Information Technology budget <br /> about pilot projects for technologies such as repeaters on school buses to increase the <br /> broadband in rural areas. <br /> Jim Northup, Chief Information Officer, said there is no line item for research and <br /> development, but the Department tries to explore technology to improve current networking <br /> technology. He said he has been focusing on improving broadband around the County for the <br /> past few years, and the hotspot option at the library was one successful outcome. <br /> Commissioner McKee said the reality of modern education requires that families have <br /> access to the internet, and broadband must be improved in the County. <br /> Jim Northup said there is $500,000 earmarked in the Capital Improvement Plan for a <br /> grant to help improve broadband in Orange County, which will focus on the northern rural <br /> areas and some western areas of the County. <br /> Commissioner Price suggested that Jim Northup talk with Google about securing <br /> broadband on school buses. <br /> Commissioner Rich said she met this morning with Lilyn Hester, Google's Head of <br /> External Affairs for NC and SC, who is working on these types of projects around the State, all <br /> of which have been grant funded. <br /> Commissioner Burroughs said this is a topic to add to the Board's meeting with the <br /> schools in the fall, and if residents with school aged children are contacting the Board of <br /> County Commissioners (BOCC), those residents should be encouraged to lobby their school <br /> boards. She asked if buses under the purview of the County have Wi-Fi. <br /> Commissioner Price said if Lilyn Hester could talk to school administrators to try and <br /> help sell the idea. <br /> Jim Northup said such a meeting would be under the Manager's purview. <br /> Bonnie Hammersley said she will bring it up at the superintendent's meeting next week. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said he was told that Orange County Schools' (OCS) bus drivers <br /> do not drive the buses home at night so the transponder would just sit in the garage. He <br /> suggested speaking to Fire and EMS stations to allow the County to add transmitters to their <br /> buildings, as well as other County and community buildings. <br /> Commissioner Rich said Lilyn Hester knows about the County's hot spot program, and <br /> she believed that Ms. Hester has spoken to the superintendents. <br /> Chair Dorosin said there are some mistakes on green sheet. <br /> Bonnie Hammersley said staff will correct these issues. <br /> Chair Dorosin referred to the last item, in which Commissioner Burroughs has <br /> requested to add $1.75 million to the schools, from the lowering of the reserve percentage. He <br />