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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 1152.000 2012-2014William P. Kenoi Mayor Nancy E. Crawford Director Deanna S. Sako Deputy Director County of Hawaii Finance Department 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2103 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 = `� (808) 961 -8234 Fax (808) 961 -8569 -- October 29, 2014 J Yoshimoto, Council Chair and Members of the Hawaii County Council N3 w- Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Re: Operating Budget The State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) is providing $40,000 of federally derived funds to the County of Hawai`i's Department of Research and Development. These funds are for the purpose of conducting a community assessment of the probability of broadband adoption/subscription in the Hamakua District if services become available at market prices, and to examine the potential for community collaboration and market development to expand broadband services in the District. Enclosed is a resolution to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the DCCA for this grant. Also enclosed is a bill for an ordinance amending the Operating Budget by appropriating this $40,000 grant award. We request that this resolution and bill be waived from the Finance Committee and be placed on the November 19, 2014 Council agenda in order to expedite the receipt of this grant. If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to call Donn Mende, Deputy Director of the Department of Research and Development at 961 -8368. Kt� Nancy Crawford Director of Finance Enc. cc: R &D �Wes-94-1+Qtl�3ar -o� Comm. No Ref. . y ((52- V Hawai'� unty is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer To: c, (, L t 7( Ref. Date OCT 2 9 2014 Form #: B -52 7/18/91 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION DEPARTMENT: Research and Development DATE: October 28, 2014 STAFF CONTACT: Donn Mende, Deputy Director PHONE A. REQUEST: 961 -8368 To allow the Department of Research and Development to accept a $40,000 grant from the State of Hawaii, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) and for the appropriation of funds. A corresponding expenditure account for miscellaneous contract services is also required. Waive: Finance Committee due to the limited time that the County needs to enter into this agreement. B. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION (USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS AS NEEDED): The DCCA, Cable Television and Broadband Division desires to partner with the County of Hawaii, through its Department of Research and Development, to conduct a community assessment of the Hamakua District of the Island of Hawaii. The purpose of this assessment is to (a) understand the probability of broadband adoption /subscription if services become available at market prices, and (b) examine the potential for community collaboration and market development to expand broadband services in the district. DCCA is a recipient of a grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for the purpose of broadband mapping and planning, and would like to enter into an inter - governmental agreement with the County of Hawaii for the sum of $40,000 for assessment as identified above. A detailed listing of the scope of the project is attached hereto as Exhibit A. fy SIGNED: DATE: 10/28/2014 Department Head EXHIBIT A I. Statement of Purpose Provide a community assessment of the Hamakua district of Hawaii Island for a Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) broadband project in partnership with the County of Hawaii, through its Department of Research and Development. The purpose of the assessment is to (a) understand the probability of broadband adoption /subscription if services become available at market prices and (b) examine the potential for community collaboration and market development to expand broadband services in the district. II. Methodology Two -phase process to assess broadband adoption potential: a. Needs Assessment L Inventory • Inventory of private meeting places and access to broadband at the facilities • Inventory of public meeting places (state or county) and access to broadband for community • Inventory of businesses in community • Inventory of community organizations • Inventory of schools and public libraries, level of technology available, whether broadband access made available before and after school and to whom • Inventory of local government and community services Characteristics • Community leadership and support of technology • Current economy base and existence of ecommerce • Existing workplaces of Hamakua residents: home - based, district - based, island - based, working at a distance using internet communications, etc. • Public access to broadband in community at various facilities • Existing community development plans • Existing digital literacy training opportunities. b. Listening Sessions Conduct listening sessions at strategic locations within the district to better understand the community and potential customer base and to identify long and short term opportunities for community collaboration and market development. The following will be evaluated during this phase of the study: • Is this a traditional economy community or an emerging or potentially emerging e- community? • Technology literacy and access to broadband • Economic development and e- commerce potential • Social determinants of broadband adoption; likelihood of community interest in forming community broadband committee to create a broadband development plan • Perceptions and needs of businesses regarding telecommunication services • Whether people have service, and if so, what type • If no service, do they access Internet elsewhere (and where) • How much residents are willing to pay for service • General characteristics of the community (demographics, economy /commerce, geographical) • Areas within the district with concentrations of people without broadband access. III. Deliverables Synthesize the data collected in both phases of the study and (1) identify factors correlating with a high probability of broadband adoption and rank them with respect to their weight in adoption /non- adoption decision making; (2) identify underserved areas with large factor endowments correlated with a high probability of adoption; and (3) submit a written report and all underlying data collected. IV. Project Period Phase 1: Inventory: November 15 — December 15, 2014. Phase 2: Characteristics: December 1— January 31, 2015 Phase 3: Listening Sessions: January 1, 2015 — January 31, 2015 Work to be accomplished by January 31, 2015. VALERIE T. POINDEXTER Chairperson GREGGORILAGAN Vice Chair October 30, 2014 J Yoshimoto, Council Chair Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 ,T�•OF.M',�1 HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL RE: Resolution No. 596 -14 County ofHawai'i Hawai'i County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 KAREN EOFF BRENDA FORD DRU KANUHA ZENDO KERN DENNIS "FRESH" ONISHI MARGARET WILLE J YOSHIMOTO RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, PURSUANT TO HRS 46 -7, TO RECEIVE GRANT FUNDS; and Bill No. 322 : AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 14 -81, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2015. Pursuant to Section 2(g) of Rule 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the Council of the County of Hawaii, this written request is submitted with my approval that the above - referenced matter be waived from the Committee on Finance to the full Council for immediate action. In reviewing this matter, timely approval is crucial. It is therefore advantageous that approval is granted and the matter be placed onto the next Council agenda for review. However, in the event this request is denied, for whatever reason, I understand the matter shall be referred to the Committee on Finance for placement on its future agenda. Sincerely, l , Valerie T. Poindexter, Chair Committee on Finance Approved /Date /Waive to Council: IMOM J Yoshimoto, Council Chair Hawaii County Council VP /lc Disapproved /Date /Refer to FC: J Yoshimoto, Chairperson Hawaii County Council Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer