Yesterday, Governor David Ige announced the award of $5,570,883 in “Internet for All” planning grants to Hawai‘i from the Biden-Harris administration. The grants, which are part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden to provide affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed internet service throughout the state, will be used to plan for the deployment of high-speed internet networks and develop digital skills training programs.
The grants come from the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
In a press release Governor Ige said, “The challenges we faced over the past few years showed how important it is to have reliable and affordable internet access is for all residents, whether they live in urban Honolulu or a rural part of a neighbor island. This federal funding will allow the state to continue advancing digital literacy and broadband projects throughout the state in the years to come. I especially pleased that this funding includes support for broadband access in Native Hawaiian communities through the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.”
Below is further information regarding the State’s plan for the grants:
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program
The BEAD Program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs.
Hawai‘i will receive $5 million to fund various activities including:
- Identifying unserved and underserved households;
- Increasing capacity of the State Broadband Office;
- Engaging locally with the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to better understand barriers to adoption for unserved and underserved communities.
Digital Equity
The Digital Equity Act provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs to ensure that all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy. The first part of NTIA’s execution of the Digital Equity Act is to fund digital equity planning efforts.
Hawai‘i will receive $570,883.00 to fund various activities including:
- Development of the Digital Equity plan for Hawaii through the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism;
- Outreach with the State Broadband Office to stakeholders in unserved and underserved communities;
- Development of collaborative partnerships among stakeholders to achieve digital equity in Hawaii.
Internet for All
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a historic $65 billion investment to expand affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access in communities across the U.S. NTIA recently launched a series of new high-speed Internet grant programs funded by the law that will build high-speed Internet infrastructure across the country, create more low-cost high-speed Internet service options, and address the digital equity and inclusion needs in our communities.
Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) 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. For more information visit AffordableConnectivity.gov.
