Last update: December 12, 2024
The Initial Proposal is an output of the NTIA Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. It is the “first draft” of the Final Proposal for BEAD grant funding, and, among other things, explains how Hawaiʻi ensures every resident has access to a reliable, affordable, and high-speed broadband connection.
Volume 1
Volume 1 of the Initial Proposal details how Hawaiʻi will execute the BEAD Challenge Process. Notably, this volume also defines community anchor institutions, outlines all Federal funding the State anticipates for broadband projects, and features the list of unserved and underserved locations considered under the BEAD program.
Volume 2*
Volume 2 of the Initial Proposal outlines critical components to the execution of the BEAD program in Hawaiʻi through 2027. This volume includes how funding will be competitively awarded for broadband deployment, the stakeholder engagement process, workforce initiatives, planned expenditures to support the execution of BEAD, and more.
*Update on Request for Proposals (December 10, 2024)
The University of Hawaiʻi released all planned deployment Request for Proposals (RFP) under the Hawaiʻi Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. RFPs cover infrastructure buildout to unserved, underserved, and Community Anchor Institution locations. A tentative schedule and details are available at our RFP page at https://www.hawaii.edu/broadband/beaddeploymentrfp/. Note that timeline reflected is an update to the RFP process that was detailed in Section 2.4 of the Initial Proposal Volume 2 and approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in July 2024.
Submit Public Comment
The UH Broadband Office (UHBO) thanks all those who submitted public comments on the BEAD Initial Proposal draft. The official public comment period for the Hawaiʻi BEAD Initial Proposal closed on December 10, 2023. UHBO reviewed and considered public comments for inclusion in the Initial Proposal. A list of all those who submitted public comments, as well as a document of all received public comments, are available below.
The UHBO submitted the final drafts of the Initial Proposal on December 26, 2023, which included any public comments that were included in the final submission to the NTIA. Feedback on the Initial Proposal will continue to be accepted, with a chance for consideration in subsequent BEAD outputs, and may be issued:
- Via email to broadband@hawaii.edu
- Via telephone at 808-956-6602
- In writing via mail to:
Information Technology Center Attn: Susan Hirai 2520 Correa Road 4th floor Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
Initial Proposal Supplemental Documents
Unserved & Underserved Location Files
Dec 2023 version (Latest)
Jun 2023 version
Dec 2022 version
Community Anchor Institutions
Note: These are the CAIs identified as part of the Final Proposal submission. For an updated CAI list please see https://www.hawaii.edu/broadband/community-anchor-institutions/
Community Anchor Institutions by County
Note: These are the CAIs identified as part of the Final Proposal submission. For an updated CAI list please see https://www.hawaii.edu/broadband/community-anchor-institutions/
Hawaiʻi Island
Kauaʻi
Maui
Honolulu