Google Fiber Connections Program

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Viveca Martinez
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2015 4:31 pm

Google Fiber Connections Program

Post by Viveca Martinez »

Posted on behalf of Chair Ellen Troxclair:

Members, in the June meeting of the Economic Opportunity Committee, the Department of Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs presented an item regarding a replacement site for the Google Fiber Community Connection Program due to the withdrawal of an awardee. A vote on this item was planned for the August 10th meeting of the Economic Opportunity Committee. However, due to a budget session, that meeting is now moved to August 24th, which will not allow action in time to meet the deadline set by Google Fiber of August 31, 2015.

Because of these circumstances and at the direction of the Law Department, I am posting a proposed list that was presented to the Committee at the June meeting on this message board and asking for your feedback as per the requirements of the Council Resolution No. 20130822-070 which states the process for replacement as:

“In the event that a recommended Google Fiber Community Connections site does not get implemented, the City Manager will collect suggestions for a replacement site from City Council members and provide this to the Emerging Technology and Telecommunications Council Committee which will recommend a replacement Community Connections site to the City Council. City Council will make a final decision on a replacement site.”

List of eligible applicants: The Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs Department (TARA) presented a list of nine potential awardees to the Committee at the June meeting (see attached labeled ‘Suggested Replacement Sites’). The list is representative of organizations that have already been deemed eligible and scored by TARA at the direction of the Council.

On behalf of the Committee on Economic Opportunity, I would like to highlight that the withdrawing organization, the Austin Travis County Integral Care, scored highest (85) in the category titled “Community”. (See attachment for categorical assessments). I would ask that members consider recommending an organization that meets the same categorical service as the one which is withdrawing. Therefore, the organization CommUnityCare, with a score of 75, would be the next categorically related and third highest scoring of this set of applicants.

Additionally, please note that all organizations on the proposed list reside in the same zip code as the original withdrawing entity, zip code 78744, District 2. I would recommend that we retain the next awardee in the same general area if possible.


On behalf of the committee, I asked the Department of Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs to provide us with:

1. Background summary on this program and selection process (2015 MB Google Fiber Memo)
2. Presentation from the June meeting of the Economic Opportunity Committee (TARA Google Fiber Power Point)
3. The list of all 100 applicants who were selected for the program.– (Final Council Approved List of 100 Sites)
4. The accompanying resolutions pertinent to this program and any replacements previously made. - (Resolution Nos. 20131212-070, 21030822-083 and 20140828-094)

Furthermore, I ask my fellow members to consider a simple language change to the resolutions amending the previous committee name of “Emerging Technology and Telecommunications” committee to the current committee name of “Economic Opportunity” committee.

Action to be requested: Please review list of replacement options with the intention of voting on a site selection at the August 6th, 2015 meeting of the council. I will be drafting an Item from Council regarding the selection of a replacement site.

Thank you.


Please see attachments:

Background summary on Google Fiber Community Connections Program and replacement process
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 153113.doc

Presentation from the June meeting of the Economic Opportunity Committee
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 153311.ppt

Suggested replacement sites for Council review
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 153535.xls

Resolution 20131212-070
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 153656.pdf

Resolution 21030822-083
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 154908.pdf

Resolution 20140828-094
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 154608.pdf
Chief of Staff
Office of Council Member Ellen Troxclair, District 8
Ann Kitchen
Posts: 294
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 4:04 pm

Re: Google Fiber Connections Program

Post by Ann Kitchen »

Thank you for the information.

I will support an entity in the same zip code with a similar mission and scoring, but do not have one in particular to recommend.
Ann Kitchen
Council Member District 5
Don Zimmerman
Posts: 168
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:05 am

Re: Google Fiber Connections Program

Post by Don Zimmerman »

I would be inclined to support the recommendation of CM Troxclair's Committee based on the information in this thread.
Don Zimmerman
Council Member District 6 (northwest Austin)
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