Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 5, 2021

Federal Funds to Assist DHHL Lessees with Broadband Service

(Kapolei, O‘ahu) – The Federal Communications Commission has announced a new Emergency Broadband Benefit program utilizing $3.2 billion to provide qualified households with a discount towards broadband or cellular data service. The temporary benefit will help to lower the cost of broadband service for eligible households impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and an enhanced benefit of up to $75 per month for qualifying lessees on Hawaiian Home Lands. The benefit also provides up to $100 per household discount toward a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop, or tablet if the household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase through a participating broadband provider.

A household is eligible if at least one household member meets one or more of the criteria below:

• Has an income that is at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline;
• Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, or did so in the 2019-2020 school year;
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
• Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020; or
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

The participating Hawai‘i internet service providers for the Emergency Broadband Benefit program currently include:

• American Broadband and Telecommunications Company
• AT&T
• Charter Spectrum
• Cricket Wireless
• Hawaii Dialogix Telecom
• Hawaiian Telcom
• Selectel Wireless
• T-Mobile
• Verizon

Enrollment for the Emergency Broadband Benefit will begin on May 12, 2021. To learn more or apply online visit getemergencybroadband.org or call (833) 511-0311 between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. HST.

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About the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands:
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands carries out Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole’s vision of rehabilitating native Hawaiians by returning them to the land. Established by U.S. Congress in 1921, with the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, the Hawaiian homesteading program run by DHHL includes management of over 200,000 acres of land statewide with the specific purpose of developing and delivering homesteading.

Media Contact:
Cedric Duarte
Information and Community Relations Officer
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
(808) 620-9591
[email protected]