HB 1062 Summary

• Establishes the broadband infrastructure grant program administered by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to award grants for broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas of Hawaii.

• Defines unserved areas as locations without broadband access and underserved areas as locations where minimum upload/download speeds are less than double the required broadband standards.

• Requires grant applicants to contribute minimum 50% of project costs from their own funds, demonstrate experience providing broadband services in Hawaii, and comply with net neutrality principles as defined by Executive Order No. 18-02.

• Establishes an annual application process with a 60-90 day submission period and authorizes existing broadband providers to challenge applications within 45 days by disputing unserved/underserved status or attesting to planned service in the project area.

• Prioritizes grant awards based on size of unserved/underserved population served, lack of infrastructure duplication, applicant experience, preference for unserved over underserved areas, and higher matching funds committed.