Hawaii to begin nearly $150M broadband expansion for underserved communities
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii is moving forward with a nearly $150 million broadband expansion aimed at bringing high-speed internet to rural and underserved communities across the state.
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The Governor’s Office and University of Hawaii announced Tuesday that deployment of $149.5 million in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding is set to begin.
The state finalized a contract with Hawaiian Telcom to bring fiber-optic service to about 5,800 homes that currently lack modern broadband access.
The BEAD program targets roughly 7,000 unserved and underserved locations statewide, with about 82% expected to receive fiber-optic connections.
“Reliable, modern Internet infrastructure is critical to help ensure that all of our communities have access to information and opportunities for healthcare, education, commerce and public safety,” Gov. Josh Green said.
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The effort is being coordinated by the University of Hawaii Broadband Office following years of planning, community outreach and a competitive bidding process.
UH President Wendy Hensel said the investment is intended to help Hawaii residents and businesses remain competitive while expanding access to information and resources.
“This incredible BEAD award complements our more sustainable, long-term investment,” said Su Shin, president of Hawaiian Telcom. ”We are investing $1.7 billion to make Hawaiʻi the first fiber-enabled state in the country.”
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