Eleven Hawaii internet service providers are participating in a federal aid program for broadband internet costs that goes into effect Wednesday.
The $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit Program set up by the Federal Communications Commission can be accessed by eligible households to receive a discount of up to $50 a month on their broadband internet bill. There is an enhanced benefit of up to $75 per month for qualifying households on Hawaiian Home Lands.
“Now more than ever, internet access has become essential for every household,” said Burt Lum, strategic officer for the Hawaii Broadband Initiative, in a statement. “This new program has the potential to create more digital equity in Hawaii by providing our island residents who are suffering during this pandemic with the connectivity tools they need to live and thrive in today’s digital world.”
ISPs supporting the program in Hawaii are:
- Aloha Broadband
- American Broadband and Telecommunications Company
- AT&T
- Charter Spectrum
- Cricket Wireless
- Hawaiian Telcom
- PCsForPeople
- Selectel Wireless
- Truconnect
- T-Mobile
- Verizon
Gov. David Ige said that about 200,000 Hawaii households could be eligible for the benefit.
According to the governor's office, households that are eligible to apply are those with a household member enrolled in the FCC Lifeline program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program; or someone who received benefits under the free and reduced-price school breakfast or lunch program; or someone who filed for unemployment or the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program in the last year.
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands said that those who received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year, or have an income that is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines are also eligible.
The program is limited to one account per household. However, participating households may also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 toward the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer or tablet through the participating Hawaii ISPs if the household contributes a minimum of $10 towards the purchase price.
Hawaii Dialogix Telecom was dropped from the initial list of internet service providers distributed by the state, and Truconnect was subsequently added since the initial version of this story was posted.
