How the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program work is being continued in Chicago.

1. Creating Synergies
and Capacity through
Public Partnerships
Daniel X. O’Neil
Council on Foundations Fall Conference
October 21, 2014
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@danxoneil @smartchicago

2. Our Principles
Technology
Open
Everyone
Chicago
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3. @danxoneil @smartchicago
We’re all about technology
• Everything we do relates to technology
• We are of and about the Internet
• We believe in the transformative power of
the Internet to change lives and build the
economy for all
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4. @danxoneil @smartchicago
We are open
• Open source code
• More importantly: open processes, open
minds, open methods
• Allowing others “in”, wherever that may be
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5. @danxoneil @smartchicago
Target market: everyone
• We believe in the power of the network
• The network needs everyone in it in order
for it to be powerful
• We work on solutions that cover the entire
city
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6. @danxoneil @smartchicago
Chicago is our middle name
• All of our work is done here
• Unique and thriving ecosystem
• We serve as a model for others
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7. @danxoneil @smartchicago
Access, Skills, and Data
Smart Chicago is a civic organization
devoted to improving lives in Chicago
through technology. We work on increasing
access to the Internet, improving skills for
using Internet, and developing meaningful
products from data that measurably
contribute to the quality of life of residents in
our region and beyond.
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8. The Founders:
2 Philanthropies, 1 Municipality
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9. @danxoneil @smartchicago
The Chicago Community Trust
• Provides housing for the
organization and is fiscal
agent
• At the center of funding and
knowledge for the region
• Critical financial, human
resources, and other support
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10. @danxoneil @smartchicago
The John D. and Catherine T.
MacArthur Foundation
• A center for ideation and
conception
• Julia Stasch: 2007 report,
“The City that NETWorks”
• Our primary source of funding
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11. @danxoneil @smartchicago
The City of Chicago
• The most important policy
lever in the region
• Departmental relationships
• A critical partner for having
impact and getting things
done
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12. The Funding
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13. @danxoneil @smartchicago
Sources of Capital
• MacArthur: primary; essential
• CCT: critical back-office support as well as grants
• Knight: an essential, growing partner focused on civic
engagement
• Other foundations: programs centered on subject
areas
• Government: We do open data work for Cook County
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14. We function as a tech
development outfit.
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15. We were kickstarted by BTOP
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16. @danxoneil @smartchicago
Two projects
We administered two grants received by
the City of Chicago from the U.S.
Department of Commerce – National
Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) under the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Broadband Technology Opportunities
Program (BTOP) for Sustainable
Broadband Adoption and the support of
Public Computer Centers
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17. @danxoneil @smartchicago
Public Computer Centers
• $8,974,283
• Building new computer centers,
including Smart Health Centers
• Adding capacity at others
• Creating a community of shared
learning through Connect Chicago
• We learned that there were tons of
places of learning but none of
them were connected to each
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18. @danxoneil @smartchicago
Sustainable Broadband Adoption
• $7,074,369
• Run by LISC Chicago
• Working to increase digital access
and use by families, businesses
and other institutions in five
moderate- and low-income Chicago
neighborhoods
• Building a culture of digital
excellence that supports
neighborhood goals—from
education to economic
development, from safety to youth
programs
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19. @danxoneil @smartchicago
But what do we do now?
• BTOP is over
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20. @danxoneil @smartchicago
But what do we do now?
• Keep working!
• None of the assets disappear
• There are budgets embedded
in all of the institutions
• People value technology, so
our work has value
• Meetups, building community
and awareness
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21. @danxoneil @smartchicago
We have a chance to make
Chicago the most dynamic
digital city in the world.
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22. Call me!
@danxoneil @smartchicago
@danxoneil
(773) 960-6045
doneil@cct.org
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