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Let's do it for the underserved families!
AUTMHQ UPDATES
Hola and Hello!
As you are aware, an intense ice storm knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes in Central and East Texas last week. Power lines were brought down by freezing rain and fallen trees. The Texas Tribune initially reported that some residents were unable to obtain information from the Austin Energy website and social media due to a lack of an internet connection or reliable cellphone data. "Frustration" is the most commonly used word in comments from the over 300,000 customers without power. While we share that frustration and sympathize with the families who struggled during these days without basic resources such as power, internet access, and cellphone data, we must remember that in Texas, more than two million households lack high-speed internet access, and 4.1 million Texans live in poverty. This translates into a life of frustration and limited opportunities.
Austin Urban Technology Movement (AUTMHQ) collaborated with organizations to launch a regional campaign for low-income, underserved, and underrepresented communities. The Texas Technology for All petitions seek to provide these communities with internet access, technology devices, and educational resources to help them transition into the tech industry. All we ask is that you read the petition and provide your e-signature; signing takes only one click. Our goal is to collect 2,500 signatures in order to capture the attention of local news outlets and, as a result, make real changes.
Visit https://www.change.org/p/texas-technology-for-all to get a better understanding of the problem, the goals we seek, and the solution we propose. Please sign if you agree with us and want to help underserved communities avoid frustration and a lack of basic resources. These communities still need a small light in their homes, the one that indicates that they are connected to the Internet.
Paty Sesma Vice President of Marketing and Communications at AUTMHQ
Learn more about the outages in Austin, Texas:
AUTMHQ LEARNING
Who Is Eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more.
The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
Please remember to complete the FCC National Broadband Map form. here: https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home
ATX EVENTS
The biggest giving event in Central Texas is almost here!
This year, we invite you to join us on March 1-2 for the biggest giving event in Central Texas, Amplify Austin Day. On Amplify Austin Day, you can make an impact on our collective community with a gift of $5 or more in support of over 700 local nonprofits. It’s easy to love Central Texas, and part of what makes it great is our incredible nonprofit community. If you love where you live, we ask that you love where you give. Please support our mission. ??
Amplify Austin Day’s early giving period kicks off today. You can make your donation now at AmplifyATX.org by searching "autmhq."
Calling all AUTMites!
This is your chance to put your life experience to good use while also getting paid to help the community.
ReThink Austin 2023
?? Get ready fore ReThink Austin 2023!
This year, we will learn about emerging technology, which includes both new technology and the ongoing evolution of existing technology. This event contributes to AUTMHQ's awareness-to-employment pipeline, which aims to increase diversity in technology while also creating an ecosystem to close the wealth gap.
?? Stay tuned!
@AUTMHQ
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