SB 917 Summary

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

• Requires grant applicants to contribute a minimum 40% of total project costs from their own funds and demonstrate experience providing broadband or communication services to residential customers in the State.

• Converts the Hawaii Technology Loan Revolving Fund into the Hawaii Broadband Infrastructure Fund, expanding eligible deposit sources to include federal funds, county funds, and private sector funds, with a cap of $10,000,000.

• Authorizes the issuance of $5,000,000 in general obligation bonds for fiscal year 2021-2022 to fund the broadband infrastructure grant program.

• Takes effect July 1, 2021, with the Department required to adopt implementing rules within twelve months of approval.