RESOLUTION No.  36428

Create the City of Portland Digital Opportunity Program to increase opportunities for low-income and underserved residents to improve their lives through the use of technology and Internet access in conjunction with the Unwire Portland wireless project (Resolution)

WHEREAS, we now live in a digital age, a time when information technology is pervasive in most of our lives; and

WHEREAS, those who lack meaningful access to technology experience a new form of poverty and new barriers to success; and

WHEREAS, only half of low-income households in the region currently have the Internet in their homes, compared to over ninety percent of middle and upper-income households; and

WHEREAS, the Internet has become the de facto resource for technology-literate individuals to communicate with their friends, families and community, as well as answer critical ‘life event’ questions on such diverse issues associated with employment, health and personal finance; and

WHEREAS, the federal Labor Department predicts that over eighty percent of new jobs will require information and technology skills; and

WHEREAS, recent studies point to the fact that access to a home computer and the Internet increases the likelihood that children will graduate from high school; and

WHEREAS, there is still a persistent ‘digital divide’ along socio-economic lines, where some populations have limited access to computers and the Internet; and

WHEREAS, the City of Portland, TriMet and the Portland Public School District, through the Unwire Portland project, have created the opportunity for a wireless Internet ‘cloud’ over the City that will provide lower-cost Internet access; and

WHEREAS, the City of Portland can provide economic opportunities for its residents by encouraging the use of technology and the Internet.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL:

1.  Asserts that the City of Portland shall adopt a new technology policy to support the Digital Opportunity Program, that builds opportunities for all residents to participate in, use and benefit from the City’s wireless Internet infrastructure; and

2.  Asserts that the Digital Opportunity Program shall consist of multiple efforts, which include, but are not limited to supporting and participating in public-private partnerships

to increase home computer ownership among low-income residents,: including a

consumer computer loan fund; increasing opportunities for youth to participate in and become leaders of technology adoption in low-income communities through a ‘Digital Connectors Corps’; and enhancing City services by expanding opportunities for residents to use City of Portland online content to improve the connection to City, State and County services, as well as other work and income supports, emergency management information and civic participation.

3.  Expresses its support for directing workforce development and youth employment resources to support the Digital Opportunity Project as a critical element to producing a highly trained and qualified workforce.

4.  Direct the Bureau of Technology Services to prepare and deliver to the City Council an annual report describing uses of the Unwire Portland project to promote increased access to technology resources among underserved communities.

BACKING SHEET INFORMATION

AGENDA NO. 976-2006

ORDINANCE/RESOLUTION/COUNCIL DOCUMENT NO. 36428