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Article 6. Telecommunications and Broadband. Section 5-6-1. Policies. (1) Reliable communications are essential for modern daily life and public safety. The County should support dependable, affordable, and high-speed telecommunications services for residents, businesses, schools, and public facilities. (2) Access to broadband should not depend on where someone lives. Broadband infrastructure should be available in both urban and rural communities to reduce service gaps and support economic, educational, and civic participation. (3) Telecommunications facilities should be thoughtfully integrated into communities. Telecommunications facilities should be sited and designed to minimize visual, environmental, and neighborhood impacts while meeting service needs. (4) System reliability improves when infrastructure reflects local conditions. Telecommunications systems should prioritize resilient and durable infrastructure, including underground or hardened installations where feasible, to reduce vulnerability to storms and natural hazards. (5) Public safety and emergency response rely on dependable communications. Public facilities and critical infrastructure should maintain reliable dependable telecommunications capacity to support emergency coordination, disaster response and public safety operations. (6) Digital tools can improve how residents access County services. The County should use digital technology to make public services more accessible, efficient, and responsive to community needs. (7) Digital access must be paired with digital skills. The County should partner with schools, libraries, and community organizations to support digital literacy and technology training, particularly for seniors, students, and underserved populations. Section 5-6-2. Actions. (a) County facilities should have reliable and modern connectivity. The department of information technology, or other applicable departments, shall maintain and improve broadband connectivity at County buildings and facilities. (b) Clear siting standards help balance service needs and community character. The planning department shall develop and update siting and design standards for telecommunications facilities. (c) Infrastructure projects should coordinate utility installation whenever possible. The department of public works shall coordinate the placement of underground or co -located telecommunications infrastructure in conjunction with roadway and capital improvement projects where feasible. 42