HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/03/1994, C-8 - GRANT APPLICATION - TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ME7n D
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Emanip COUNCIL AGENDA T n"E 'NUM9ER:
FROM: William C. Statler, Director of Finance
Prepared by: Lori Atwater, Information Systems Coordinator_!
SUBJECT: GRANT APPLICATION - TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION
INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Administrative Officer to apply for Telecommunications and
Information Infrastructure Assistance Program grants in the amount of$320,000 for a demonstration
project ($210,000), and planning project ($110,000).
DISCUSSION
Overview
On March 1, 1994, the City Council adopted a resolution supporting the electronic village concept and
contributed to the planning of a very successful conference and trade show educating the community
on the benefits and impact of creating an electronic village. The results of the forum demonstrated
significant community interest and support for this concept. A new federal grant program provides
the City with an opportunity to begin implementing this concept at a reduced cost to the community.
Under this grant program, the U.S. Department of Commerce will allocate up to $26 million to
community-based organizations to advance the goals of the "National Information Infrastructure"
initiative.
This application will be made in cooperation with SLONET, the County of San Luis Obispo, Chamber
of Commerce, Cal Poly, Cal Trans, Cuesta, County Superintendent of Schools, and San Luis Coastal
School District. At a total estimated cost of $320,000, the City's matching contribution will be
$160,000. However, we estimate that contributions of funds, staff resources and in-kind donations
from agencies and private industry will reduce the City's commitment to an estimated contribution of
$50,000 for this project. Agency contributions will be finalized by September, 1994 when the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration makes its grant awards.
Description of the Grant Program
On January 4, 1994, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an
agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established the telecommunications and information
infrastructure assistance program (TIIAP). This competitive grant program was created to advance
the goals of the Clinton Administration's National Information Infrastructure (NII).initiative.
Major goals of the NII initiative are: promoting private sector investment through appropriate tax and
regulatory policies; extending universal service so that information is available to all at affordable
prices, using the widest variety of appropriate technologies; promoting technological innovation and
new applications; providing wider access to goverment information; and guaranteeing information
security and network reliability.
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i city of Sanl. .a OBI SPO
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
The TIIAP will provide matching grants to state and local governments, non-profit health care
providers, school districts, libraries, universities, public safety services, and other non-profit entities.
Grants will be awarded after a comparative merit review process and will be used to fund projects to
connect institutions to existing networks and systems, enhance communications networks and systems
that are currently operational, establish new network capabilities, permit users to interconnect among
different networks and systems, and bring more users on-line. Equally important, they will help
leverage the resources and creativity of the private sector to devise new applications and uses of the
NII. The TIIAP grant application must be received in Washington, D.C. by May 12, 1994.
Proposed Projects
There are two categories of grants under the TILAP: demonstration projects and planning projects.
The proposed application will specifically address the requirements of agencies within San Luis
Obispo and build on current networks and projects that deliver information to the public. Detailed
project narratives are provided in Exhibit A. The following is summary of the proposed workscope:
Demonstration Project
Demonstration Project Goals. NTIA's "demonstration project goal" is to fund projects that provide
a model for an information infrastructure that: reinforce the values of American democracy; promote
economic opportunity and the effective delivery of education, health care, public safety, libraries,
community information services; create information empowerment zones; and provide other services
that foster public participation in the political process and civic life.
Project Request: "Creating On-ramps to the Information Superhighway". The project would
install high capacity communication links between existing networks at several City, County, State,
Cuesta College, and local school administrative offices, providing access to the information
superhighway through SLONET, the regional public access system. It would also further develop the
City information kiosk to include information resources from the other agencies involved in the
project. During this project, the information kiosk could become an extension of the SLONET non-
profit organization. The project duration is twelve months.
Planning Project
Planning Project Goals. NTIA's "planning project goal" is to foster planning efforts that bring about
collaboration among counties, communities, and public and private organizations in facilitating their
coordination with state agencies involved with NII planning and implementation.
Project Request: "Developing an Electronic Village". The project would facilitate public/private
planning for the development of an electronic village within San Luis Obispo.
1. City information services would be reviewed for the potential of providing various on-line
services. An assessment of information services provided by each participating agency would
be performed to integrate their services into SLONET and the information kiosks. This part
of the project integrates with the demonstration project.
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00111�il111 city of san L ,s 0131SPO
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
2. Planning an electronic village must address how the telecommunications infrastructure will
increase the economic viability of the community. Coalitions will be created that include the
public and private sector which will be responsible for developing community implementation
and use policies and determining how the community information infrastructure and access to
the national information infrastructure will benefit our local economy.
3. Evaluating the costs and benefits of developing a telecommuting center/hot site will be
included in considering potential business and government partnerships. A separate site with
networked office equipment and Internet access could serve as a center for business
telecommuters and off-site storage for local business and government data processing. In the
event of a disaster, the City and County would have immediate access for the resumption of
critical business activities, such as payroll and public safety.
4. The entire planning effort will be developed in coordination with the goals and policies of the
State of California Telecommunications Division and the California Public Utilities
Commission recognizing the resources these organizations have committed developing
telecommunications infrastructure in the state.
Relationship of this Project to our Information Systems Master Planning Efforts
The Information Systems Master Plan will provide the City with strategic direction to implement
integrated, efficient, and cost effective computing systems, networks, and telecommunications. This
plan is expected to be completed by November, 1994. We believe that these projects are a logical
extension of our information systems planning and implementation efforts. Much of the background
work required to proceed with these projects will be accomplished during the information systems
master planning project.
CONCURRENCES
The Electronic Village planning committee composed of representatives from Cal Poly, Cuesta,
SLONET, the County of SLO, PG&E, Pacific Bell and the Chamber of Commerce and the MIS
Steering Committee concur with the request.
FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated cost to complete both the demonstration project ($210,000) and the planning project
($110,000) is $320,000. Grant recipients under this program will be required to provide matching
funds toward the total project cost. NTIA will provide up to fifty per cent (50%) of the total project
cost. For the purpose of delivering the grant application to NTIA by May 12, 1994, the City
contribution is $160,000. However, as reflected in the attached project budget, (Exhibit B), the
estimated City contribution after outside participation is $50,000.
The City's contribution includes 200 hours of project management by City staff during 1995. Moving
City offices from leased lines to fiber optic cable will save the City $6,300 annually. No additional
administrative or technical support will be required after the completion of this project.
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4 101I� I Ju City Of San 'L_.,S OBISPO
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
In summary, if the City is successful in receiving this grant, the City may have to contribute up to
$160,000 in funds that have not previously been allocated for this purpose. Funding would come from
unreserved fund balances at that time. However, as noted above, we believe we can reduce the City's
net obligation to $50,000. Further, at some point, we believe that this is the type of planning and
initial project implementation that we will have to do in the future anyway; this simply provides an
opportunity to do.it sooner, at a 50% lower cost to our community.
ATTACHMENT
Resolution authorizing the CAO to apply for telecommunications and information infrastructure
assistance program grant funds
EXHIBITS
A. Project narrative
B. Project budget
ON FILE IN THE COUNCIL OFFICE
■ Department of Commerce grant announcement Docket Number [940118-4018]
■ TRAP: Guidelines for Preparing Applications, Fiscal Year 1994
RESOLUTION NO. (1994 Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER TO APPLY FOR
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM GRANT FUNDS
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo adopted Resolution No. 8271 on
March 1, 1994 endorsing the concept of developing an electronic village in San Luis Obispo; and
WHEREAS, the City was a sponsor (along with many private and public sector organizations)
of the electronic village conference held on March 31, 1994 which was extremely well received by
the community; and
WHEREAS, the City supports cooperative endeavors between business entities, government
agencies and educational institutions; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo, County of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly State
University, Cuesta College, County Office of Education, San Luis Coastal Unified School District, and
many community businesses desire to develop means of community communication beyond their
traditional boundaries;
WHEREAS, the local, national and global community is developing information networks
which permit electronic communication between the private sector, government, educational
institutions, and citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information
Administration is offering new grant funding with the goal of developing community information
networks which supports the City's existing commitment to the electronic village concept;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo:
SECTION 1. The City Administrative Officer is authorized to apply for Telecommunications
and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program grants in the amount of $320,000 for a
demonstration project ($210,000) and planning project ($110,000) as described in Exhibits A and B
attached hereto.
SECTION 2. The City Administrative Officer is authorized to work cooperatively with the
County of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly State University, Cuesta College, County Office of Education,
San Luis Coastal Unified School District, and the private sector to receive contributions from these
organizations to defray the City funding obligation for these projects.
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Resolution No.
On motion of , seconded by , and on the
following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted this day of , 1994.
ATTEST:
Diane Gladwell, City Clerk Mayor Peg Pinard
APPROVED:
J e . Jor nsen, ty Affirney
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Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP)
Narrative of Grant Request
Overview
Grant Background On January 4, 1994, the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTTA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, announced a competitive
grant program, the TTIAP, which was created to advance the goals of the Clinton Administration's
National Information Infrastructure (NII) initiative.
Major goals of the NII initiative are: promoting private sector investment through appropriate tax and
regulatory policies; extending universal service so that information is available to all at an affordable
price, using the widest variety of appropriate technologies; promoting of technological innovation and
new applications; providing wider access to government information; and guaranteeing information
security and network reliability.
The TRAP will provide matching grants to state and local governments, non-profit health care
providers, school districts, libraries, universities, public safety services, and other non-profit entities.
Grants will be awarded after a comparative merit review process and will be used to fund projects to
connect institutions to existing networks and systems, enhance communications networks and systems
that are currently operational, establish new network capabilities, permit users to interconnect among
different networks and systems, and bring more users on-line. Equally important, they will help
leverage the resources and creativity of the private. sector to devise new applications and uses of the
NII. The T HAP grant application must be received in Washington, D.C. by 5 p.m. on May 12, 1994.
City and County Support As reflected in the attached resolutions adopted by the San Luis Obispo
County Board of Supervisors on February 23, 1994 and the San Luis Obispo City Council on March
1, 1994, the City and County are very supportive of the electronic village concept. The City and
County subsequently contributed to the planning of a very successful conference and trade show
educating the community on the benefits and impact of creating an electronic village.
The City of San Luis Obispo recently connected two administrative buildings with a fiber optic run
using existing conduit and installed 5,000 feet of conduit dedicated to fiber optic, data communication.
Existing abandoned conduit has been identified for future projects.
Community Support The City of San Luis Obispo, County of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly State
University San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College and the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce
sponsored the Electronic Village Conference at the Pacific Suites Hotel on March 31, 1994. The
conference informed the community about the Internet, applications in government, medicical services,
education, and business which use telecommunications, and community computing in San Luis Obispo
County considering their impact on the way we do business and the quality of our lives.
The Electronic Village Conference was designed to educate non-technical individuals in private
enterprise, the public sector and educational institutions with visual demonstrations and discussions
using common language. Results of a survey distributed to over 400 people who attended the
conference demonstrates their support for the electronic village concept and a desire to see public and
private organizations work together toward the development of an electronic village in San Luis
Obispo.
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Proposed Projects
There are two categories of grants: demonstration projects and planning projects. The proposed
application will specifically address the requirements of agencies within San Luis Obispo and build
on current networks and projects that deliver information to the public.
Demonstration Project
Demonstration Project Goals. NTIA's "demonstration project goals" are to fund projects that
provide a model for an information infrastructure that reinforce the values of American democracy;
that promote economic opportunity and the effective provision of education, health care, public safety,
libraries, and community information services; create information empowerment zones; and provide
other services that foster public participation in the political process and civic life.
Project Request: "Creating On-ramps to the Information Superhighway"
Project Duration: Twelve months
A. high Capacity Links
1. Interconnect existing wide area networks at the City of San Luis Obispo with the
County of San Luis Obispo using a fiber optic cable for information sharing, electronic mail,
and communication with the State of California administrative offices.
2. Migrate City of San Luis Obispo public safety networks from T-1 to fiber optic cable
for improved performance and reliability.
3. Expand existing wide area network at Cuesta College to permit wider use of Internet
access for instructional purposes using a combination of fiber optic and wireless technologies.
The college has submitted applications to the FCC for wireless (ITFS) channels.
4. Increase bandwidth of communication between the County Office of Education and San
Luis Coastal Unified School District offices to permit automated data input and computing
resource sharing using T-1, frame relay or ISDN technologies.
5. Link for administrative offices for the Department of Transportation District #5
integrating their wide area network and permitting district-wide electronic mail and
communication with central administration using fiber optic and T-1 technologies.
6. Provide fiber optic links between County administrative offices and the City/County
Library.
7. Expand access to the SLONET by adding T-1 or frame relay connection to the north
and south county areas.
B. Access to Information and Government
1. Information Kiosk. Expanding on the existing City pilot program which uses a
touchscreen, PC-based, bi-lingual (English and Spanish) system which is easily expandable:
a. Enhance community access to government and other information resources
through three (3) information kiosks located in public locations.
b. Train individuals who will maintain up-to-date information on each kiosk.
2. SLONET. Enhancing existing community information access system which provides
public Internet access:
a. Install additional modem pool with error correction and management capabilities.
b. Expand existing "gopher" menus to include information resources and service
provided by participating agencies permitting global access to regional information.
c. Install SQL/database software and import land use data and other
locally-generated, statistical information for full-text search capabilities.
3. Develop information resources on the information kiosks and SLONET from each
participating agency, including:
a. Medical information and resource information
b. Shelter locations and resources for the homeless
C. Transportation maps and ride share resources
d. Community college and school district adult education schedules
e. Enmagency service bulletins, procedures and resources
f. Land use databases
g. Sample ballots and voter registration information
h. Resources for ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) communities
C. Citizen Participation
1. Provide citizens with the ability to send electronic mail to local elected officials and
agencies.
2. Develop the use of "conferencing" capabilities on SLONET to foster community
discussions of local issues. as well as access to national and. international networks for
information retrieval and exchange.
3. Provide surveys on the information kiosks for citizens to answer about a wide variety
of community services without computer literacy, thereby, increasing participation in
government.
D. Training
1. Provide system administration training for technical staff in each participating agency.
2. Provide end user training.
Planning Project
Planning Project Goal. NTIA's "planning projectgoal" is to foster planning efforts that bring about
collaboration among counties, communities'. and public and. private organizations so as to facilitate
their coordination with state agencies involved with NII planning and implementation.
Project Request: "Developing an Electronic Village"
Project Duration: Twelve months
A. City Information Services Review
1. Using the City Information Systems Master Plan, conduct an evaluation of what City
services could be put on-line to improve service delivery, public access, and performance
accountability of City .agencies.
2. Provide this model to assist in community-wide service integration planning.
B. Community-wide Information Services Integration
1. Use consultant assistance in planning for the technical and service extension of
SLONET and the information kiosk into other community services.
2. Develop coalitions which include representatives from each sector of the community.
3. Incorporate the use of electronic village surveys to assess community computing and
information resource requirements.
4: Identify ways to reduce duplication of services between the County and City, school
districts, and.community organizations.
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5. After consensus gathering, develop community network implementation and use
policies.
C. Private Sector Investment
1. Using the results of work done by our community Economic Strategy Task Force, the
Chamber of Commerce and local businesses will develop consensus as to what information
infrastructure is needed to encourage investment in jobs, businesses, and markets.
2. Determine how private industry will invest in the electronic village and obtain
commitments of contributions for future electronic village implementation projects.
D. Transportation/Disaster Planning
1. Identify the community needs for alternative transportation by consolidating existing
policies and goals from each public agency.
2. Evaluate the costs and benefits of developing a "cooperative" hot site for local
government disaster recovery using business and local government partnerships.
3. Evaluate the costs and benefits of combining the hot site with a telecommuting center
with networked computers, Internet access, telephones, copiers, and fax capabilities. Private
use of the facility for telecommuters and off-site tape storage would defray the cost of
maintaining a hot site.
4. Determine how public agencies would resume business functions at the telecommuting
center in the aftermath of a disaster.
E. San Luis Obispo Electronic Village Plan
1. Use consultant assistance to develop a community master plan for continued
development of the San Luis Obispo Electronic Village that identifies:
a. Funding resources
b. Partnerships
C. On-going training for technical experts and end users
d. An implementation schedule
e. Structure for future evaluation of the effectiveness of the resulting infrastructure
2. Widely distribute the electronic village plan in the community.
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BUDGET SUMMARY
T11AP Grant Request: San Luis Obispo Electronic Village - 1995
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I. 5��n Project Budget $2109000
A. High Capacity Links
B. Access to Information and Goverment
Citizen Participation
C. Training
D. Administration
1. City staff support (150 Hours)
2. Other staff supoort
3. Consultant assistance
4. Office expenses
IL Planning Project Budget $110,000
A. City Information Services Review
B. Community-wide Information Services Integration
C. Private Sector Investment
D. Transportation/Disaster Planning
E. SLO County Electronic Village Plan
F. Administration
I. City staff support (50 Hours)
2. Other staff support
3. Consultant assistance (included above)
4. Office expenses
5. Trips and meetings
Total budget for grant request $320,000i
I. TIIAP Grant Award $1609000
11. Matching Funds 1602000
A. Community Sources $120,000
1. City of San Luis Obispo $50,000
2. Other agencies including: 70,000
County of San Luis Obispo
Cal Trans, District#5
San Luis Coastal Unified School District
Superintendent of Schools
Cuesta. College
Cal Poly State University, SLO
San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce
B. Private Sector Sources including: $40,000
Pacific Bell (Expertise, ISDN for schools)
Pacific Gas & Electric (Equipment)
Novell, Inc. (Software, student kits)
ComputerFocus (Computer training)
Siecor (Fiber optic cable)
Cisco Systems (Routers)
Total Anticipated Funding t $320 000
hFIEETINf„ AGENDA _
J �.i.•,t :� IJ vl
Vote: The following message is a forwaYdialitemet me'ssa-'='�F I
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STATE OF METRO ADDRESS
I:
MAYOR PHILIP N. BREDESEN =
APRIL 4, 1994
Information superhighway. We've all heard that phrase. Our vice president has made it almost
a household Mord.
One thing we all know instinctively about superhighways; it's real good if they build an
interchange richt where you are; an interchange at your town.
I want to help set Nashville on a course to be sure that we're on one of those
interchanges on the information superhighway. To make sure as this new technological
revolution takes place, we're among the leaders in using it for the benefit of our city.
Here's what I propose ave do in practical terms.
There are many organizations today that have built a digital network to connect the people in
the organization together. Right here in Nashville, one good example is Vanderbilt University.
Students, researchers, professors, admitustrators; all are hooked together in a nerivork that
connects the campus together. Each user can exchange electronic mail vNzth all the others, or
can connect to any number of other computers to do and access information.
Other organization have similar networks. Other universities, businesses, government. The
Mayor's office has a tiny network connecting all fifteen of us.
What 1°d like to see us build is a Nashville wide network, connecting not members of the same
organization but citizens of the same cit;.
This is not pie-in-the-sky; it is a practical idea. South Central Bell has invested in the digital
communication equipment that makes it possible. Viacom has wired many schools and homes
together in its cable system. The technology is there.
Over the next few months, I'm going to seek to get perhaps two or three dozen businesses, our
local universities, at least one or two government agencies including our public library, and
some of our schools to join together in a network. This is a partial approach that can be
implemented inexpensively, and would give Nashville something special and unique to build
upon.
Here's what it would look like for a lay.�-er in Donelson whose office is a part of the nem7ork.
She turns to her personal computer mid-morning. First she reads her E-mail. There's a short
a short note from a client in Bellev-ue, with documents that the client has read and added
comments to. She sent it over electronically earlier this morning for his review. She checks the
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CiTY COUNCIL
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continents and makes some changes, and forwards it on to her secretary. There's a short
billing question from another client. And there's a note from her daughter at U of Knoxville
telling her she got a 91 on her math exam that morning, and asking for some money.
She has a meeting with Mayor Bredesen that afternoon to discuss a matter, and wants to know
to know if the Mayor has made any public statements on the subject.:,She connects to the
'Nashville Banner's computer to check clippings for the past couple of years. The connection
takes perhaps five seconds, the search another minute.
She also checks in with the bulletin board at the bankruptcy court in Maine, to see if there has
been any further action on a case she is folloNving for a client. And she's a Rush Limbaugh
fan, so she checks her Limbaugh newsgroup for comments from around the world on his latest
few broadcasts.
This is not science fiction. People are doing what I've described today in universities and
individual technology-oriented companies, at very modest cost.
We need some central equipment, a few tens of thousands of dollars worth. We need to work
with South Central Bell and Viacom to make them part of the system. We need an Internet
registration, which we have applied for. We need some computers in our public libraries so that
citizens without their own computers can access this as well. And we need some people willing
to be pioneers. That last part has never been a problem in Tennessee.
If Nashville establishes a community-N°ide network of the sort I have described, it will be the
fust to my knowledge in the nation. I love being known as Music City. But wouldn't it be
great to have people travel from all over the country to Nashville not only to visit the Grand
Old Opry but to learn how to prepare for the future in the information age as .vell?
Thank you for giving me this opportunity this morning. I'm proud to be Mayor of our City,
and prouder still of what our city has accomplished this past year. May the forthcoming year
be even more productive, and may each of you feel the joy that I feel in being an American,
a Tennessean and a Nlashvillian.
Thank you, and Godspeed.
MEETING AGENDA /1 rA%.iriLrA,1U0CLL!
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DATE 23- ITEM U-J
A Pacific Telesis Company
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April 21, 1994
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Office of Telecommunications and 1-1
Information Administration _"r"!..,.,.•:'-J D ;=„ _,,,E CHF.H
Department of Commerce 0 M;C'417 7-i'U"I 3 PEO D!,”
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14th Street and Constitution Ave. NW, Room H4889 "U 0
Washington, D. C. 20230 ^' ''C
Re: TIIAP Grant Application, City of San Luis Obispo
I write on behalf of Pacific Bell to express our support of the City
of San Luis Obispo's THAP demonstration and planning project grant
applications.
Our support for these projects will be in two components:
1) technical expertise, and 2) installation and use of specific
services in public K-14 schools and libraries without charge for a
twelve month period.
We will provide consulting expertise in the realms of network
planning and design at no charge for the purposes of these grants.
Other appropriate consulting expertise will also be made available at
no charge for the projects.
Because the granted projects' purposes include the ubiquitous
connection of public agencies, including educational institutions,
Pacific Bell offers as many as four Integrated Services Digital
Network (ISDN) lines to each public school and library in the project
area free of charge for twelve months. We will also install one ISDN
line in the school district office per school connected at no cost
for an equivalent period. Where necessary we will also wire up to
two classrooms per school so they may accept these lines, free of
charge. This offer is contingent on a favorable ruling by the
California Public utility Commission, which we are confident will be
forthcoming in June of this year.
Of the four lines per site described above, one would be used for
data communication, and up to three would be used for video
connection as appropriate.
The donation of free ISDN service for twelve months, as outlined
April 21, page_ two
above, produces a potential in-kind donation totaling $84,130. This
figure is based on the California Public Utility Commission's tariff
rates for these services, applied in the quantity noted above to the
seventeen K--14 public schools, one public library, and the school
district office in the project area.
Sincerely,
Brad Schram
Regional Manager, Public Sector
—'`ETING AGENDA lo,
_
Pacific Gas and Electric Company Los Padres Division X;el 11 3�4 ITEM #
406 Higuera Street Manager
P.O.Box 592
April 28, 1994 San Luis Obispo,CA 93406
905/595-6404
OuP;Gii. ❑ CDD DIR
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CAG IyFNi DIR
?<tC4f' ❑ FIRE CHIEF
Lori Atwater P,-,1 Dir,
Information Systems Coordinator � � .,._ ,. 1
r City of San Luis Obispo ❑ or!
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403-8100eti. :r_
Dear water:
This i a letter of support for the community's effort to establish an "Electronic Village"
within the City and County of San Luis Obispo. We have demonstrated our support and
buy-in to the Electronic Village concept already through various activities: Electronic
Village Conference sponsorship and attendance by various local PG&E management
employees on March 31, 1994; vendor booth participation at the conference; and
continued membership on the San Luis Obispo Electronic Village Task Force.
Over the past five years, PG&E has donated over 350 surplus computer "pc" units to local
nonprofit community-based organizations. Our intent is to continue these allocations into
the future.
PG&E prints an employee newsletter that can be used to solicit employee volunteers to
assist community-based organizations with computer related training. This will be
especially valuable if a Federal grant is issued for use in the community.
Another area of local need seems to center around SLONET, a local nonprofit
organization that provides Internet and data base access for the community. I recognize
they are in a start-up mode and are in need of commercial grade computer hardware. I am
willing to pursue financial support from PG&E that will aid SLONET in establishing
necessary infrastructure to accommodate community computing. At this time I will seek
$5,000 in PG&E funding or equivalent computer hardware for SLONET. This funding
will be contingent upon a further evaluation of the SLONET organization by PG&E.
Thank you for your work and efforts on this mutually beneficial project. The jobs and
economic vitality potential from the formation of this collaborative partnership will
certainly transend traditional geographic.boundaries and has endless community
opportunities.
Continued Success, r: .,r,
MAY f 1994
"ITY CLERK