HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11d - High-Speed Broadband Services
DATE: March 17, 2020
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Darlene Bradley, Director of Library and Museum Services
Prepared by: Roger Hiles, Library Services Manager
SUBJECT: APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH CALIFA GROUP FOR HIGH-SPEED
BROADBAND SERVICES AT THE ARCADIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
It is recommended that the City Council approve the 2020 Agreement with Califa Group for
high-speed Internet service at the Library, and continued participation in the California
Public Library Broadband Consortium, which provides substantially discounted Internet
service. Sufficient funds are included in the Arcadia Public Library’s Operating Budget for
FY 2019-20 to pay for the service.
BACKGROUND
Since 2015, the Arcadia Public Library has been a member of the California State Library’s
Public Library Broadband consortium. As a member, the Arcadia Public Library receives
high-speed internet service through the California State Library, as administered by Califa
Group, a California 501(c)(3) Public Benefits Corporation under contract with the State
Library.
The Library’s public computers and Wi-Fi system provide Internet service through a
connection to the California Research and Education Network (“CalREN”), the State
government’s primary communications infrastructure, which is maintained the Corporation
for Education Network Initiatives in California (“CENIC”). This network currently provides
high quality, high-speed access to the University of California, the California State
University system, California Community Colleges, the California K-12 system, some
private universities, and many public libraries.
The California State Library established the California Public Library Broadband
Consortium to allow the State to apply for grant funds from the California Public Utilities
Commission’s Teleconnect Fund grant program and U.S. Federal Communications
Commission’s Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries grant program on
Library Broadband Contract with Califa Group
March 17, 2020
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behalf of member libraries. These grant funds are then applied towards the cost of the
CENIC broadband service and result in a substantially discounted cost for member
libraries.
DISCUSSION
In the past, the Arcadia Public Library, like many smaller California libraries, has lacked the
specialized staff needed to successfully apply for complex grant programs such as the
Schools and Libraries program. The State Library’s creation and funding of the Library
Broadband Consortium presents the City with a great opportunity and meets a vital need
in the community. In 2019, the cost to the Library for broadband internet connectivity
through CENIC was $20,201.37. The total amount received by the Library from these two
grants came to $15,151.03, so that the net cost of this service to the City was $5,050.34.
Internet access is offered to the public through the Library’s public computers and public
Wi-Fi system. Last year, this connectivity was used by patrons 100,229 times.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the
environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funds have been included in the Arcadia Public Library’s Operating Budget for
FY 2019-20 to pay for the discounted service.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action is exempt under the
California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and approve an Agreement with Califa
Group to administer the consortium contracts that provide for the maintenance and service
of high-speed internet connectivity at the Library, and also approve continued participation
in the California Public Library Broadband Consortium.
Attachment: Advanced Network Service Agreement