Title
Approve and authorize the Library Director or Designee to enter into a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with HughesNet, for public satellite internet services for the Big Sur Branch Library in the amount of $4,477.56 for a two (2) year period, from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2016.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Library Director or Designee to enter into a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with HughesNet, for public satellite internet services for the Big Sur Branch Library in the amount of $4,477.56 for a two (2) year period, from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2016.
SUMMARY:
Wi-Fi is considered a core service in Monterey County Free Libraries' branches. Twelve branches already have Wi-Fi available for public use. Big Sur is one of the few branches that does not currently provide public access to Wi-Fi. The County library has been attempting to provide this service for several years but technological challenges and geographic limitations have prevented this from happening.
The recommended action will enable Monterey County Free Libraries (MCFL) to provide public Wi-Fi access at the Big Sur Branch Library.
Monterey County IT Department requires MCFL to provide Wi-Fi services to the public separate from the Monterey County computer network for security reasons. Other branches of MCFL do this through DSL connections from AT&T. DSL is not available in Big Sur, however limited satellite services are available. HughesNet is the only commercial service that provides Internet connectivity to business customers in the Big Sur area that also meets the requirements of Monterey County IT and the Library system; because of this, it is the recommendation that HughesNet be approved as a sole source provider for these services to the Big Sur library facility.
Provision of services through HughesNet will allow Monterey County Free Libraries to offer Wi-Fi access to patrons...
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