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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROMOTING DIGITAL EQUITY THROUGH THE WIDE AREA NETWORK AND BROADBAND EXPANSION
WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 10 of the Constitution of the State of Illinois authorizes and encourages units of local government to contract in any manner not prohibited by law or ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, 5 ILCS 220/1 et seq. authorizes units of local government to enter into intergovernmental agreements with other public agencies; and
WHEREAS, SSMMA is a public agency as defined under Section 2 of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, 5 ILCS 220/2; and
WHEREAS, South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA), owns, manages and maintains a high-speed telecommunications network brand as Chicago Southland Fiber Network (CSFN); and
WHEREAS, Cook County & SSMMA have worked as close collaborators regarding CSFN for over a decade, including two previously executed Intergovernmental Agreements - one granting the County an Indefeasible Right of Use of Fiber on CSFN on April 9th, 2014 (Item No. 14-2274) and the second for Broadband Maintenance and Other Related Services on September 14th, 2016 (Item No. 16-5098 and 16-5099); and
WHEREAS, Cook County & SSMMA have been collaborating on the expansion of CSFN through Federal and Stant Grants awarded to the County for such purpose; and
WHEREAS, Cook County and SSMMA have determined that it is in the best interest of both parties and the network for CSFN to terminate the existing Intergovernmental Agreements which expire in 2034 and enter into a new Intergovernmental Agreement with Cook County through the Office of the President and the Bureau of Technology which allows SSMMA to transfer its rights, ownership and control of the Wide Area Network, including Fiber to Cook County in exchange for $2 million and assign SSMMA's Interim Operating Agreement with Urbancom.net Fiber Operations, Inc. for broadband maintenance and an indeafesible right of use to Cook County th...
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