The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will receive $17.3 million in new federal funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce to expand high-speed internet access in Native Hawaiian communities, it was announced Monday.
According to an announcement from U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, the funding comes from the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, which expands broadband access on tribal lands.
The allocation will cover new broadband equipment and software, new computers and personal devices, support for increased remote learning, telehealth, and digital inclusion programs — as well as staff to ensure their successful implementation, the announcement noted.
Funding also will support a DHHL survey of Native Hawaiian households, the data from which will be used to help develop a statewide collective broadband strategy
“This funding will increase broadband internet access in Native Hawaiian communities across the state, helping families and small businesses get the high-speed internet they need and supporting the expansion of important services, including telehealth and remote learning,” Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement.
