RONDELLA HAWKINS, OFFICER (DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR)

Email Rondella Hawkins

Phone: 512-974-2999

Rondella Hawkins has more than 30 years of experience in local government. Her office has direct responsibility over utility rights-of-way franchise agreements and license agreements with telecommunications and wireless providers, and she serves as the city’s single point of contact for the Google Fiber and AT&T fiber projects and the wireless small cell deployment program by private providers. She is responsible for implementing the city’s Digital Inclusion Strategic Plan, ensuring that all Austin residents have the information technology capacity needed for civic and cultural participation, employment and access to essential services.

She oversees the administration of the public access television management contract and coordinates with other Austin educational and government tv channels. Her office provides staff support to the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission.  Her office administers the City’s Credit Access Business (CAB) program which includes the registration and oversight of CABs that provide payday loans and/or auto title loans to consumers.

She is actively engaged on legislative and policy issues related to broadband communications, maintaining local rights-of-way authority,  and digital inclusion. She serves as Vice President of the Texas Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (TATOA). Rondella is a former Board member of the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) and was selected as NATOA’s 2010 Member of the Year and she received the NATOA Life Member award in 2014.

TARA Leadership Team

Babette Ruiz, Department Executive Assistant

Khotan Harmon, Project Manager

Jesse Rodriguez, Program Manager

Melanie Kroll Eichman, Interim Financial Manager