$115 million is coming to Hawaii for broadband improvements
Photo from today’s press conference courtesy of the State of Hawaii
(BVIN) – More than $115 million in federal money is on its way to Hawaii, and it will be used to improve broadband and connectivity infrastructure in Hawaii.
From the state of Hawaii:
The White House and the US Treasury held a joint press conference with Governor Josh Green, MD, to announce the release of $115.5 million in US Rescue Plan capital project funds to improve broadband in the state of Hawaii.
“The pandemic has shown that there are disparities in Hawaii’s access to reliable and affordable Internet service,” said Governor Josh Green, MD, MD, Josh Green, MD. “I thank President Biden and his administration for providing federal resources to help our state improve Internet access for all residents. High-speed Internet is critical to education, telehealth, job opportunities, and information.”
The University of Hawaii (UH) has worked with the Department of Budget and Finance to submit the CPF Scholarship Plan to the US Department of the Treasury in Fall 2022 for review. The plan includes two programs to help develop broadband infrastructure and provide broadband connectivity in the state’s public housing facilities.
“He has led UH in bringing broadband connectivity to Hawaii for decades, from bringing the first Internet connections to Hawaii, to making Hawaii the first in the nation with fiber optic connectivity to every one of our public schools, public libraries, and public higher education sites,” said UH President David Lassner. “We are incredibly proud to now be the only institution of higher learning to lead these vital next steps in developing the broadband infrastructure so critical today to the business, education, health care, and economic vitality of our entire state.”
“The project funding will help us consolidate and strengthen aging broadband pipelines in Hawaii and provide the foundation for future decades that will see increased demand for Internet access,” said Jarrett Yoshimi, vice president of information technology and chief information officer at UH.
“Connectivity is no longer a convenience in modern times, but it is an essential tool in our daily lives, and we must secure Internet access for all,” said Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Locke.
“As the most isolated inhabited place on the planet, we face unique communications challenges and rely on submarine cables to stay connected,” said US Senator Brian Schatz. “Improving our submarine cable infrastructure to ensure that Hawaii stays connected to the world and that everyone in the state has access to reliable, high-speed internet has been my focus, and this funding will help make that a reality.”
