The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) announced it had received a $72 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP).
This grant, along with a $17 million grant DHHL received from NTIA earlier this year, provides a total of $89 million to expand broadband internet access to thousands of underserved households on Hawaiian home lands by funding new telecommunications infrastructure, workforce development programs and digital equity initiatives for DHHL lessees.
The TBCP grant will help bring fast fiber optic internet connections to thousands of DHHL lessees throughout the state. The grant will fund telecommunications infrastructure on Hawaiian home lands in areas that have limited access to broadband service – and will be used to establish connections at planned housing developments.
Grant funds will be dispersed over a four-year period, with projects rolling out through 2028.
In addition to infrastructure projects, the TBCP grant will also support:
- Workforce Development Programs – training and skills development to support digital jobs and career opportunities.
- Digital Equity and Education Initiatives – resources and programs aimed at increasing digital literacy and ensuring that DHHL lessees have the skills necessary to bridge the digital divide.
- Community Centers – establishing centers on Hawaiian home lands where residents can access digital education resources and public internet.
Photo credit: Office of Governor Josh Green