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K <br />• Apr. 2015 — The Broadband Initiative resident group was formed. <br />• November 2014 — The Manager directed County staff to make a concerted effort to <br />engage residents in broadband discussions. <br />• June 2014 — January 2016 — Orange County leveraged its relationship with Time <br />Warner resulting in Time Warner extending its wireless hotspots network throughout <br />downtown Hillsborough and into Fairview and Cedar Grove Parks. Prior to the County's <br />contact, Time Warner reported it was only going to deliver hotspot services to Durham <br />and Chapel Hill. This service allows any individual to connect wirelessly throughout <br />downtown Hillsborough and the parks for free. <br />• 2011 — North Carolina House Bill 129 barred governments from using public funds to <br />become Internet Service Providers. <br />• 2010 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) publishes its National <br />Broadband Plan. <br />• 2010 — MCNC awarded federal funds for middle -mile network in rural NC. <br />• 2009 — The US Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus bill included a provision to <br />make loans to states for the purpose of broadband. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with receiving this report. <br />SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There are no Orange County Social Justice Goals applicable to <br />receiving this report. While broadband improvements are widely seen as scoring high on the <br />social justice impact scale, this report only serves to inform the board on said improvements. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the report and <br />provide feedback and questions as needed. <br />