Schatz: Hawai‘i Set To Receive Nearly $150 Million In New Federal Funding To Expand High-Speed Internet Access To More People Across The State

HONOLULU – Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced that Hawai‘i will receive $149.5 million in new federal funding to expand high-speed internet access across the state. The new funding from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program will be used to help build and improve broadband infrastructure across Hawai‘i.

“Everyone in Hawai‘i should have access to high-speed internet,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This new funding will help us expand broadband infrastructure across the state, and help make sure more people and small businesses can get affordable, dependable high-speed internet service.”

The new funding follows more than $5 million Hawai‘i received last year from the BEAD program, and $115 million from the Department of the Treasury. To date, Hawai‘i has received  more than $335 million to expand broadband access and is expected to receive an additional $86 million later this year.

The BEAD program was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, legislation signed into law by President Biden last November that will bring at least $2.8 billion to Hawai‘i for infrastructure improvements.