Schatz: More Than $37 Million In New Federal Funding Will Help Improve High-Speed Internet Infrastructure Across Hawai‘i

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced a $37.4 million grant award to Hawaiian Telcom. The funding, part of the Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program, provides funding for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of middle mile infrastructure.

“Everyone in Hawai‘i should have access to high-speed internet,” said Senator Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This new funding will give us the resources we need to remain connected to each other and the world by expanding broadband infrastructure between islands and across the state, and help make sure more families and small businesses can get affordable, dependable high-speed internet service.”

The purpose of the grant program is to expand and extend middle mile infrastructure to reduce the cost of connecting areas that are unserved or underserved to the internet backbone. The program was created and funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

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