City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays

Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized the CMRPC Community Planning Principal Planner, who provided an overview of the item.

Chairperson Councilor King discussed the effect of competition on prices by service providers with the CMRPC Community Planning Principal Planner.

Chairperson Councilor King recognized the WPL Executive Director, who discussed the digital literacy program and lending program at the library, the importance of such programs being frequently accessed and used, the importance of and strategy concerning regionalization and the process relative to public engagement.

Chairperson Councilor King recognized the CMRPC Community Planning Principal Planner and the CMRPC Regional Services Principal Planner, who discussed partnership with other towns in the region outside of Worcester and public engagement process with the CMRPC Director of Economic Development.

Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed public feedback and issues concerning Charter/Spectrum and the needs to provide hotspots and free internet access to the public at public facilities.

Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed survey data from the Census Bureau relative to households that do not have internet and phone or other computing devices with the CMRPC Community Planning Principal Planner.

Chairperson Councilor King recognized the CMRPC Community Planning Principal Planner, who discussed the mapping of data concerning income and race and the importance of having access to quality technology and internet services with the WPL Executive Director.

Chairperson Councilor King recognized the following speakers:
1. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item
2. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item

Chairperson Councilor King then discussed healthy device internet use for youths and children.

Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following seven (7) Chairman’s Orders:
1) Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the negotiation between the City of Worcester and Charter/Spectrum.
2) Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning strategies that could be implemented to increase competition in the city amongst internet providers.
3) Request City Manager work with the Superintendent of Public Schools to provide City Council with a report concerning plans to provide more hotspots and enhance access strategy to internet in the city.
4) Request City Manager provide City Council with a timeline concerning when public service campaigns regarding digital literacy and healthy device internet youth education will begin.
5) Request City Manager provide City Council with report detailing framework for a grant program that can used to help the city fill the gap for providing residents affordable internet that is being caused by the discontinuance of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
6) Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of creating a digital navigator program with dedicated digital equity managers.
7) Request City Manager provide City Council with an action plan regarding strategic recommendations made by Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) in conjunction with the city.

Chairperson Councilor King moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.

Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the negotiation between the City of Worcester and Charter/Spectrum.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning strategies that could be implemented to increase competition in the city amongst internet providers.

Request City Manager work with the Superintendent of Public Schools to provide City Council with a report concerning plans to provide more hotspots and enhance access strategy to internet in the city.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a timeline concerning when public service campaigns regarding digital literacy and healthy device internet youth education will begin.

Request City Manager provide City Council with report detailing framework for a grant program that can used to help the city fill the gap for providing residents affordable internet that is being caused by the discontinuance of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of creating a digital navigator program with dedicated digital equity managers.

Request City Manager provide City Council with an action plan regarding strategic recommendations made by Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) in conjunction with the city.

Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized the Chief Information Officer, who provided an overview of the item.

Chairperson Councilor King discussed whether there are additional policies, the process to create and implement said policies, feedback and concerns the new Vendor Check Register and Informing Worcester policy, increased risks relative to phishing and cyber security with the Chief Information Officer.

Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed phishing tactics relative to email domains and how to make information concerning the Vendor Check Register be accessible on the website and through search engines with the Chief Information Officer.

Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays: Request City Manager request Chief Information Officer improve navigation to the Vendor Check Register and address any correlative challenges to make the process more user-friendly.

Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed how long the registry was offline, whether data from the offline period are accessible, plans concerning immigration of old data into Informing Worcester and making available information concerning bidding requirements for contracts and bidding process with the Chief Information Officer.

Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays: Request City Manager request Chief Information Officer consider adding language to the Vendor Check Register to help individuals understand the bidding process relative to contracts and when said process can be exempted.

Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed making the Vendor Check Register more mobile-friendly with the Chief Information Officer.

Chairperson Councilor King recognized the following speaker:
1. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item

Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed whether the City has insurance for cases relative to phishing and cyber-attacks with the Chief Information Officer.

Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays: Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether the city has any protections against cyber-attacks.

Chairperson Councilor King moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.

Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays

Request City Manager request Chief Information Officer improve navigation to the Vendor Check Register and address any correlative challenges to make the process more user-friendly.

Request City Manager request Chief Information Officer consider adding language to the Vendor Check Register to help individuals understand the bidding process relative to contracts and when said process can be exempted.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether the city has any protections against cyber-attacks.