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19 <br /> At the September 1, 2020 Board of Orange County Commissioners business meeting a petition <br /> was submitted by Commissioner McKee to create an Orange County Broadband Task Force. <br /> Stakeholders would include the County Manager, Information Technology Department Director, <br /> a representative from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT), <br /> Orange County Schools Superintendent, Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Superintendent and <br /> Community members living in the unincorporated areas of Orange County who are <br /> underserved, including those with an interest in resolving the digital divide in Orange County. <br /> The Task Force charge will include but not necessarily limited to: <br /> 1. Discuss broadband solutions that will improve the quality of high-speed internet services to <br /> Orange County residents; <br /> 2. Recommend a plan to the Board of Orange County Commissioners that will expand reliable <br /> high-speed internet services to all county residents and businesses. <br /> Position # Special Representation Appointee <br /> 1. County Manager (Designee) <br /> 2. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Superintendent (Designee) <br /> 3. Orange County Schools Superintendent (Designee) <br /> 4. NC Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) Representative <br /> 5. Board of Commissioners — 1 <br /> 6. Board of Commissioners — 1 <br /> 7. Orange County Resident—At Large <br /> 8. Orange County Resident—At Large <br /> 9. Orange County Resident—At Large <br /> 10. Orange County Resident—At Large <br /> 11. Orange County Resident—At Large <br /> Chair Rich said the full Board would approve all members of this Task Force, including <br /> BOCC appointments. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin made a friendly amendment to include a position for a <br /> representative from Durham Tech. <br /> The Board agreed by consensus. <br /> Commissioner McKee said his primary reason for bringing this petition forward was the <br /> large number of residents who were underserved as schools closed. He said the Board is <br /> aware that he cannot attend BOCC meetings at home because of this issue, and he has come <br /> to realize that this is about much more than schooling. He said broadband is needed for <br /> employment, everyday shopping, and everyday living. He said the emergency services task <br /> force was started in a similar way, and has had great results. He said he is hopeful that this <br /> taskforce will be as successful. He said efforts thus far have been slow, and he wants to find a <br /> better way. <br /> Chair Rich said other experts can be brought in as needed. She said Dr. Felder, OCS <br /> Superintendent, was quoted in the New York Times, and this is a rural problem all over the <br /> country. She said the 2016 law that prevents counties from providing broadband was also <br /> mentioned in the article, and is the biggest obstacle to fixing this problem. She said the <br /> composition of the Task Force is great. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he is well aware of the state law, but he is willing to push the <br /> boundaries to the absolute limit. He said he is no longer willing to wait, and this task force can <br /> move the process forward one way or another. <br />