In line with the State of the State Address recently given by Gov. David Ige, there has been a push from the state to improve infrastructure in order to accommodate economic diversification so that the state’s economy is not as vulnerable due to such heavy reliance on tourism.
Ige spoke during his address about the importance of improving broadband infrastructure across the state as one of the ways to support not only economic but educational and health care needs as well, according to coverage by StateScoop. The state is currently ranked 27th in the nation for broadband internet access.
Burt Lum, the state’s broadband officer, said that federal CARES Act spending on broadband infrastructure in Hawaii has helped, but that there is still a need for additional investment by the state, according to StateScoop. Some of what the federal funds supported – such as the deployment of mobile Wi-Fi hotspots – were only ever going to be temporary measures.
“We have a pretty fragile economy being completely dependent on tourism,” Lum said, according to StateScoop. “How do we diversify our economy? You need the foundation on which a digital economy can flourish.”
The Broadband problem is one that is felt more strongly by those on the bottom end of the economy, according to StateScoop. It’s estimated that 19% of households with an income of $75,000 annually or less have no internet access, compared to 12% across all economic groups.
There is also a gap between Native Hawaiians, 8.7% of whom lack any form of internet access, and the general population, which only has about 4.6% without access, according to State Scoop.
In addition to seeking new federal, state and private funding to boost the state’s broadband access, Ige has also endorsed the creation of a new Broadband and Digital Equity Office at the state level, according to StateScoop.