RES 043 Draft 01 2020-2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Like electricity a century ago, broadband is a foundation for economic growth, job creation, global competitiveness and a better way of life. It is enabling entire new industries and unlocking vast new possibilities for existing ones. It is changing how we educate children, deliver health care, manage energy, ensure public safety, engage government, and access, organize and disseminate knowledge. The National Broadband Plani Broadband is the critical infrastructure of the 21 st century and as such needs to be a public and private sector priority. The State of Hawaii recognizes robust broadband infrastructure as foundational to Hawaii's economic future and, as importantly, the quality of life of its residents. In 2007, the Hawaii State Legislature formed the Hawaii Broadband Task Force and charged it with removing barriers to broadband access, identifying opportunities for increased broadband development and adoption, and enabling the creation and deployment of new advanced communications technologies in Hawaii." The Task Force issued its final report to the Governor and to the Legislature in December 2008 that recommended strategic actions to meet Hawaii's goals including establishing a forward-looking vision to make Hawaii globally competitive, welcoming trans -Pacific submarine fiber to Hawaii, ensuring access to broadband for all its citizens. Legislation followed in 2010 that charged the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) with promoting broadband development; created the Broadband Assistance and Advisory Council (BRAC) under DCCA which would convene and gather stakeholder perspectives into the strategic process; and established a full-time chief information officer and an information technology steering committee. In August of 2011, the Hawaii Broadband Initiative (HBI) was launched with the goal of - I -