HomeMy WebLinkAbout24-050 - ADMIN Resolution - City Council - 2024/04/15
Resolution No. 24-050
Returning unspent Municipal Broadband Expansion Fund grant money to
Hennepin County for Connectivity Program
Whereas, in 2023, the city received $89,000 through the Hennepin County Municipal
Broadband Expansion Fund for digital equity activities, which included the assumption that the
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) would continue to provide funding for low-cost internet
and that connecting residents with this service would be a primary goal of the city’s grant-
funded activities; and
Whereas, the FCC announced in early 2024 that due to lack of continued federal
funding, the ACP would wind down. Final applications were accepted in early February and
funding is projected to run out by mid-May 2024 for participants; and
Whereas, to prevent a spike in households becoming disconnected and undoing years of
progress, Hennepin County will be implementing a Connectivity Program that will provide a $10
per month subsidy for most ACP enrollees and ACP-eligible broadband subscribers in Hennepin
County, from May-December 2024. This includes several hundred participants in the St. Louis
Park area and about 26,000 participants countywide; and
Whereas, to help fund this $2 million program, Hennepin County has asked grant
recipients to voluntarily return any unspent or uncommitted Municipal Broadband Expansion
Fund grant money; and
Whereas, returning the grant money for this Connectivity Program will allow several
hundred St. Louis Park residents to maintain their affordable internet access. This is in keeping
with the goals of the grant application and provides a larger benefit than St. Louis Park would
be able to provide on its own with its individual grant.
Now therefore be it resolved by the City of St. Louis Park City Council that unspent
grant funding will be returned to Hennepin County, with the understanding that the funding
will be used toward the Connectivity Program to continue affordable internet access for eligible
Hennepin County residents, including eligible St. Louis Park residents.
Reviewed for administration Adopted by the city council April 15, 2024
Kim Keller, city manager Nadia Mohamed, mayor
Attest:
Melissa Kennedy, city clerk
DocuSign Envelope ID: B7BCE580-73D2-45BC-938E-15B830011EA0