A broadband public comment session on the Hawaiʻi Digital Equity Plan and the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at Maui Economic Opportunity Family Center, 99 Mahalani St. in Wailuku. The program works in tandem to propose solutions for individuals and communities impacted by the “digital divide.”
$42.5 billion of broadband funding will soon be allocated under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment BEAD program provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act IIJA, which exhibits a preference for broadband partnerships.
White House has provided updates on implementation of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. White House released fact sheets for providing detailed information about announced funding opportunities and projects for each state as well as for tribal areas.
FCC grants first batch of 2.5 GHz band licenses. FCC to consider rule requiring wireless carriers to have location-based routing for 911 calls. NTIA grants five BEAD and Digital Equity Act program funding awards. FCC reviews Emergency Alert System, Wireless Emergency Alerts.
The recently signed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes significant funding to expand broadband access, to help households pay for their monthly broadband connections and to help people learn how to productively use those connections. This legislation represents Congress’ first formal recognition of the essential nature of high-speed internet. The $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, known as BEAD, requires each state to generate a five-year action plan laying out how it will use the funds, including a process for prioritizing locations classified as “unserved” or “underserved.” Similarly, the $2.7 billion Digital Equity Act requires each state to establish an organization responsible for developing a digital equity plan, which will help to disburse subgrants. Digital equity means ensuring that every community has adequate access to technologies and skills needed to fully participate in society.