HB 2397 Summary

• Establishes the Hawaii Broadband Infrastructure Authority as a public instrumentality under the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to oversee broadband infrastructure development statewide.

• Creates a 13-member board composed of 7 appointed members with expertise in communications technology, rural communities, financial lending, education, and telehealth, plus 6 ex officio voting members from state agencies.

• Authorizes the authority to acquire property, develop fiber optic infrastructure, manage rights of way, and promote the landing of trans-Pacific submarine cables to reduce barriers to fiber connectivity in Hawaii.

• Requires annual legislative reporting on the authority's budget, federal funding received, progress toward state connectivity goals, and analysis of communications service availability compared to regional and national standards.

• Amends the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office definitions to include "broadband equity" and clarifies the office's role in coordinating federal and state grant programs for digital equity initiatives.

• Appropriates unspecified federal funds to the University of Hawaii for broadband infrastructure expansion and installation in the state.

• Takes effect July 1, 2050.