Governor David Ige has signed off on a package of bills aimed at advancing his efforts to end the digital divide in Hawai'i.
In total, Ige signed off on a package of four bills, including Senate Bill 2076, which creates the University of Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i Broadband and Digital Equity Office to start a Broadband Working Group to determine the appropriate governance structure to operate, maintain and oversee broadband resources, according to a release from the governor's office. Ige has also line-item vetoed the federal fund appropriation in this bill because the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was over appropriated.
“We are committed to addressing the digital divide for all Hawai‘i residents, and these bills will bring us another step closer towards an inclusive digital community, where all ‘ohana, keiki and kūpuna have the tools needed to thrive in today’s digital world,” Ige said. “I am proud that Hawaiʻi continues to lead the charge in this field of digital equity.”
As a component of the package, Senate Bill 2214 creates a digital literacy program to be supervised by the Board of Education and carried out by the state librarian to promote digital literacy through programmatic activities, including making digital technology accessible to individuals with disabilities. Senate Bill 2184 starts a Digital Learning Center inside of the Department of Education. Its funding will go to staffing and overseeing the Digital Learning Center. Senate Bill 2479 mandates that each public housing project and state low-income housing project that is built or reconstructed after Jan. 1, 2023, will include all broadband infrastructure necessary for tenants to have access to broadband service.