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DHHL outlines $89 million in federal broadband awards, islands prioritized for homestead connections
Summary
DHHL presented a state tribal broadband update showing TBCP awards and project priorities — fiber infrastructure, digital equity and pilot island sites — and asked beneficiaries to verify street addresses to support buildout.
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands broadband staff gave commissioners an update on federal awards and buildout priorities for connecting homesteads across the state.
Jaren, DHHL’s broadband coordinator, told the commission that DHHL holds multiple federal awards: the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Round 1 award (about $17 million) for planning and digital equity work, and a Round 2 award of roughly $72 million focused primarily on infrastructure (fiber to homes) and digital‑inclusion programs. DHHL also noted a COVID‑era capital fund award used for deployment in the 2.5 GHz band and cited a target buildout date of 2028 for the wireless licensing obligations.
Staff said major categories of work include infrastructure (fiber and last‑mile connections), digital equity (workforce training, device distribution and digital literacy), community digital innovation centers and a mapping initiative to inventory current connectivity on Hawaiian homelands. Jaren said DHHL is partnering with community organizations (Hawaii Community Assets, Catholic Charities), university partners (JABSOM and the University of Hawaiʻi) on telehealth and maternal telehealth pilots, and with carriers and network vendors for island‑specific deployments.
Priority islands and areas listed in the presentation were Molokaʻi, Kauaʻi, West and East Hawaiʻi, Maui, Oʻahu and Lānaʻi; DHHL said it will coordinate with Act 279 housing projects and other state infrastructure efforts. On Molokaʻi staff reported outreach to FirstNet/AT&T to use the 2.5 GHz license for improved public‑safety coverage. On Maui DHHL cited secured contracts to connect remote bus stops for safety and education access. Staff also described a pilot recording studio partnership with the state library to record stories and digital‑mapping to show homestead connectivity levels.
Jaren urged lessees and beneficiaries to verify county‑recognized street addresses with district offices because carriers require valid county addresses to provision service to homes.
Commissioners asked technical questions about build phases, vendors and how DHHL will coordinate overlapping federal funding programs. Jaren said DHHL’s grants must deconflict other federal funds (for example, Connect America Fund obligations in some new subdivisions) and that where conduits are designated open access there may be a choice of retail providers.
The broadband coordinator said digital equity work will focus on workforce development, telehealth, digital government access and small‑business digital growth; DHHL plans community anchor device distribution and workforce training aligned with county and nonprofit programs. Commissioners and public testifiers supported the focus on islands with the greatest coverage gaps and urged DHHL to prioritize community‑based training.
