March 15, 2023 | Issue 2
Dear community partners of Dallas,
On March 8, 2023, Dallas City Council approved an agreement with Dallas Innovation Alliance to serve as a subrecipient of ARPA funds for the purpose of administering the Digital Navigators Program. The purpose of the Digital Navigators Program is to address the four pillars of digital equity across the City of Dallas through: Affordability, Access, Devices, and Digital Skills. The Digital Navigators program will engage with targeted communities to better understand and alleviate their needs to be connected to the internet, utilize computers and laptops, and acquire training to support digital skills, as well as increased awareness and use of the Dallas Public Library resources.
The Digital Navigators Program will increase public knowledge of the importance of digital equity and encourage digital inclusion efforts across our city to improve broadband access, foster adoption, and promote digital skills that will mitigate the negative effects of digital inequity on educational gaps, job and housing losses, food insecurity and health crises in the targeted communities.
The City of Dallas and the Dallas Innovation Alliance are committed to bridging the digital divide through cross-sectoral engagement and collaboration to address the various needs of the public and private sector to get connected which includes Affordable Connectivity Program enrollment assistance, tech support, and community engagement and more.
We are also very excited to announce that the City of Dallas was awarded $700,000 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) through the Affordable Connectivity Program Outreach Grant Program (ACP Outreach Grant Program) to facilitate the promotion and awareness of and participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program among eligible households. The City served as lead applicant in a collaborative application with Dallas County, Dallas Independent School District, and Dallas Housing Authority and proposed a widespread engagement and outreach campaign to reach millions of residents served by all our agencies. The campaign will utilize a broad range of media strategies to drive attendance to in-person ACP enrollment events staffed by the City’s Digital Navigators Program. The funding will also allow partners to support the informal network of information disseminators of nonprofits and other community-based organization to reach unconnected communities.
Additional details related to the official launch of the Program and ACP Outreach Grant are forthcoming.
We encourage you to stay connected, share this newsletter with community partners, and submit any digital equity events/resources you would like to publicize by emailing Estefania.ramirez@dallascityhall.com. Thank you!
Sincerely,
 Genesis Gavino, Chief of Staff & Resilience Officer
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STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Manager: Library Information Technology
Sallie Lockhart
Sallie Lockhart has been a librarian for 12 years, receiving her MLS from Texas Woman’s University. While working for Dallas Public Library she has rolled out technology programs for all 30 locations such as upgrading the Library’s internet infrastructure, Enhanced Library cards, and take-home technology for citizens. Sallie and her team have processed thousands of devices for customers to checkout and provide ongoing maintenance to keep the devices in the hands who need them the most. Sallie is passionate about equitable and forward-thinking services to create a safe and inclusive experience for all library customers and staff alike.
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 Dallas Public Library Staff Sallie Lockhart, Manager: Library Information Technology (left), Heather Lowe, Assistant Director - Technology & Strategic Direction (right) and Stephanie Ramirez, Digital Equity Coordinator (center)
City staff, pictured above, attended this years’ National Digital Inclusion Alliance - 2023 Net Inclusion Conference in San Antonio. They joined 800 digital inclusion practitioners, policymakers, advocates, researchers, and other digital inclusion leaders to learn from other digital equity advocates across the country and share what the City of Dallas is doing to tackle the digital divide through various initiatives.
 Hosted by Texas Digital Equity Network- Texas DEN was created by a group of Texas advocates and coalitions to elevate the collective thinking and designing of digital equity strategies and solutions for the state.
The summit's main tracks included:
- Digital Inclusion on the ground
- Digital equity within local and regional government
- State digital equity planning, funding, and policy
The summit provided an opportunity for digital equity advocates, community organizations, coalitions, local and regional government, and others to connect, share information, provide resources, and coordinate efforts to advance digital equity throughout the state of Texas.
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The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a U.S. government program that helps many low-income households pay for broadband service and internet connected devices.
You are likely eligible if your household’s income is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line, or if you or someone you live with currently receives a government benefit like SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, Pell Grant, or Free and Reduced-Price Lunch.
For more information: https://www.fcc.gov/acp
Get your Enrollment Specialist Certification with LearnACP.
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EducationSuperHighway has released LearnACP, a new training course and certification for states, cities, and community-based organizations working to increase awareness and adoption of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The new training is offered for free by the national non-profit and is designed to prepare individuals who support potential beneficiaries to determine if they qualify for the program, complete the application, and enroll in an affordable internet plan.
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 (Em)powerment Popups are an initiative created through a partnership between the CARDboard Project and Dallas Innovation Alliance. Both Dallas based nonprofits focus on bridging the digital divide through the ‘three legs of the stool’ - access, affordability and training - to make a more connected community through outreach to areas that have unreliable access to the internet and need support to access critical services including vaccine registration, Federal benefits for internet service, and more.
They are available every Tuesday at the Polk Wisdom Branch Library (7151 Library Ln, Dallas, TX 75232) from 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM serving the community.
To learn more visit: https://www.dallasinnovationalliance.com/digital-equity
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Connected Dallas is designed to provide a full spectrum of digital touchpoints for community members that meet them where they are, whether phone, text, chat, online or in-person. This ensures community members are educated, trained, and connected to all services that require connectivity to improve quality of life, including the basics: devices, internet plans, basic skills/tech support; as well as education, job training/applications, transportation, telehealth, and basic services. The Connected Dallas framework is provided by National Digital Inclusion Alliance.
If you’d like to learn more about becoming part of the Connected Dallas Community or have questions about engaging with the Internet, please fill out their contact form and someone will be in touch.
For more information please visit: https://www.connecteddallas.org/
Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) Program
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced his agency’s intent to solicit an initial round of grant applications to award $120 million for broadband infrastructure projects as part of the Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) Program. The BOOT Program will focus on further closing the digital divide in Texas by supporting broadband infrastructure projects in eligible areas that bring reliable, affordable internet service to communities in need.
The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) was published on TXSmartBuy.
Potential applicants have until March 17 to submit questions on the NOFA to address any perceived ambiguities and allow this agency to make any necessary corrections to the solicitation through the addendum process. All questions pertaining to the NOFA must be submitted to BDO.NOFA@cpa.texas.gov.
Applicants for the BOOT Program can submit their proposals beginning April 3. Visit BroadbandForTexas.com to learn more.
Texas Broadband Development Map
The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) has created a comprehensive address-level map depicting broadband availability data for the state of Texas. The Texas Broadband Development Map will be used to bridge the digital divide and help ensure that all residents have access to reliable broadband service.
The initial release includes 141 submissions by ISPs who operate in Texas. The BDO’s goal is 100 percent participation with the map, so we will continue to reach out to all ISPs through subsequent map refreshes. The map will be updated twice a year, and the next data refresh will be in February or March.
Learn more about the Texas Broadband Development Map
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Laptop + Hotspot Bundle
Dallas Public Library is offering library card holders who live in the city of Dallas, students who attend public schools in Dallas, public school teachers within the city of Dallas, and City of Dallas employees’ access to laptops + Hotspot Bundles.
Laptops can be requested online at Dallas Library, by phone at 214-670-1400, or by contacting a local branch. The laptops, like the hotspots, can be checked out for 30 days with the option to renew if there are no outstanding requests. Laptops can be placed on request just like a library book and picked up through the Library To Go curbside service at the designated locations. Laptops must be returned in person to the same location where they were borrowed during library open hours.
Wireless Hotspots - Hotspots can be checked out from multiple DPL locations.
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DIGITAL LITERACY AND SKILLS
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Library Card
A Dallas Public Library card is available at no cost to anyone who lives or teaches at or attends school in an educational institution within City of Dallas city limits. Educational institutions include public schools, charter schools, private schools, community colleges, colleges, and universities, etc. A library card is also available to City of Dallas employees.
How Can I Get a Card?
To receive your library card, visit any of Dallas Public Library’s locations with a government-issued photo identification, which has your current address. If your ID does not show your current address, please bring two forms of identification: one to prove your identity with a photo and one to show your place of residence. Click here for a complete list of accepted forms of ID and address verification. You can start the process by registering for a card here.
Classes The library offers a wide range of educational and cultural opportunities including early literacy story times, adult literacy classes, job search assistance, technology classes, and one-on-one computer tutoring. For a schedule of library events, check the library's event calendar. To make an appointment for one-on-one help, call or visit your nearest library location.
Classes include:
Computer Help: Is 1 on 1 dedicated computer help with a staff member from the Dallas Public Library. Who can help an individual with computer skills, accessing social services, connectivity, job applications, creating a resume and more.
Computer Tutor: Call ahead to schedule one-on-one time to work on basic technology problems you are having.
Online Computer Class- Resumes: This program is available through virtual format only. Each week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, this class will show how to best utilize computers, from resumes to social media.
Computer Basics: Library staff is available to provide one-on-one instruction. The computer sessions are for one hour.
Beginner Internet Class: Classes on Microsoft Office, search engines, keyboarding, and e-mail will be taught in Spanish
Get Connected: Dallas
 On March 25th, the Get Connected Dallas community festival will be held at South Oak Cliff High School to celebrate and educate all of the ways that technology and digital access improves our lives, and will include local performers, digital resource fair, ACP enrollment, onsite job fair, STEM village and South Dallas food truck vendors.
What Will Be Offered:
- Job Fair
- Workshops
- Robotic/STEM Village
- Music, Art, High School Bands
- Food Trucks
- Local entertainment
- Free and Low-Cost internet programs
South Oak Cliff High School
3601 S Marsalis Ave,Dallas, TX 75216
Saturday, March 25, 2023
10:00AM- 2:00PM
Let’s get empowered by getting connected!
For more info visit: https://www.getconnecteddallas.org/ or email info@getconnecteddallas.org
To register visit: https://www.getconnecteddallas.org/register
Dallas Secure App
Dallas Secure App is a mobile app offered to Dallas residents for free. This app alerts you if your mobile device, tablet, or Chromebook encounters threats, such as a potentially unsecure Wi-Fi network. With each alert, Dallas Secure will offer recommendations on how to address the threat it detected.
Dallas Secure was developed by Zimperium, a company based in the United States. Zimperium is a global leader in mobile security, offering real-time, on-device protection against both known and unknown iOS and Android threats.
Dallas Secure will not access or distribute any personal information on your device.
For more information please visit: https://dallascityhall.com/departments/ciservices/Pages/Dallas-Secure.aspx
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Texas Broadband Development Office (TX BDO) Meets every Thursday of Every Month. For more information please contact: John Speirs, John.Speirs@us.hctx.net
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Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas Boot Program - Submit questions March 6, 2023- March 17, 2023
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Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) Program - Application deadline is May 5, 2023
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Dallas County Broadband Roundtable - For more information please contact: Lillian Painter, Lillian.Painter@dallascounty.org
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NTIA's target date to make BEAD allocation announcement - June 30, 2023
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TX BDO's deadline to submit a 5-year action plan for BEAD funding - August 28, 2023 -
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TX BDO's deadline to submit a State Digital Equity plan for Digital Equity
Funds - December 1, 2023
WAYS TO GET IN TOUCH
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