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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: November 17, 2020 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 6-d <br /> SUBJECT: Orange County Broadband Task Force <br /> DEPARTMENT: County Manager <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Orange County Broadband Task Force Bonnie Hammersley, County Manager <br /> Composition 919-245-2306 <br /> PURPOSE: To consider a charge and composition for the proposed Orange County Broadband <br /> Task Force. <br /> BACKGROUND: At the September 1, 2020 Board of Orange County Commissioners business <br /> meeting a petition was submitted by Commissioner McKee to create an Orange County <br /> Broadband Task Force. Stakeholders would include the County Manager, Information <br /> Technology Department Director, a representative from the North Carolina Department of <br /> Information Technology (NCDIT), Orange County Schools Superintendent, Chapel Hill Carrboro <br /> City Schools Superintendent and Community members living in the unincorporated areas of <br /> Orange County who are underserved, including those with an interest in resolving the digital divide <br /> 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 <br /> to 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 /> Pending Board action on the Orange County Broadband Task Force, the Clerk to the Board will <br /> advertise for residents to apply for potential appointment to the Task Force. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: The financial impact will be determined based on whether the Board <br /> directs staff to contract with a facilitator for the Task Force meetings. <br /> SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: GOAL: ENABLE FULL CIVIC PARTICIPATION <br /> Ensure that Orange County residents are able to engage government through voting and <br /> volunteering by eliminating disparities in participation and barriers to participation. <br /> ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no environmental impact associated with this item. <br /> RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss and review the <br /> charge detailed above and the attached proposed composition for the orange County Broadband <br /> Task Force and provide direction to staff. <br />