HB 1408 Summary

• Establishes a digital equity grant program administered by the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to award grants for deploying digital equity projects to covered populations.

• Defines covered populations as individuals living in households with income at or below 200% of federal poverty level, seniors aged 60+, incarcerated individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, English learners, racial/ethnic minorities, rural residents, and homeless individuals.

• Restricts eligible projects to digital equity services (digital literacy and broadband access) and explicitly excludes projects involving deployment of broadband infrastructure.

• Requires applicants to submit detailed applications including evidence of experience serving covered populations, project description with specific goals and metrics, community outreach plan, demonstration of digital inequity, matching funds commitment, and timeline for completion.

• Appropriates unspecified general revenue funds for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 and requires the department to adopt administrative rules within six months of the Act's effective date.