Broadband for A.L.L.
Digital Equity Declaration faces Honolulu City Council vote
(HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I) – The Honolulu City Council will vote today on support for, expansion of, and universal access to internet broadband capacity for all O‘ahu residents to provide Digital Equity for underserved communities, in unity with the other counties and the State of Hawai‘i.
The Digital Equity Declaration, introduced by Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters and Vice Chair Esther Kia‘āina, supports the goals established by the Broadband Hui and the Hawai‘i Broadband Strategic Plan, created by a multi-sector group of local organizations and individuals. Broadband for A.L.L. is the name of this initiative, in which A.L.L. is an acronym for Access, Literacy and Livelihood, all of which will be enhanced by island wide broadband availability.
“So many of us take online access for granted and are easily able to obtain the goods and services we need with just a few clicks,” said Tommy Waters, chair and presiding officer of the Honolulu City Council. “I think about all the in-person services that stopped and went online-only during the pandemic. People with internet access could still see their doctors via telehealth appointments, they could file for unemployment benefits and access city services online, but that was not the case for thousands of our most vulnerable residents.”
“Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders and our kūpuna are disproportionately impacted the Digital Divide,” said Vice Chair Esther Kia‘āina, who also chairs the Council Committee on Housing and the Economy. “Employment applications, access to financial assistance, crucial information like where to get vaccinated against COVID-19, so much of the information everyone needs for healthy living is online now and everyone deserves to have this information at their fingertips,” she said.
According to the 2019 American Community Survey:
Nearly 12 percent of Hawai‘i’s households lack an internet subscription.
Approximately 9.5 percent of households have no internet access.
And 7 percent of households in the state don’t have a computer.
The numbers are more dramatic through a demographic lens. Internet subscriptions are non-existent for more than 19 percent of households with less than $75,000 in annual income. Nearly 9 percent of Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders have no internet subscriptions, compared to 4.6 percent of the population as a whole. Further, more than 11.5 percent of people 65 and older have no computer in the home.
Economically disadvantaged students were harshly affected by the lack of digital equity during the pandemic. In the first quarter of the 2020-2021 school year, nine of 10 students were attending school virtually. The State Department of Education reported that fewer Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students reported having enough internet-capable devices in their homes for each family member to use. Many students who received a school-issued device, gave the device back due to a lack of connectivity at home. The fact underscores a study by the Economic Policy Institute finding that “online learning and teaching ... are effective only if students have consistent access to the internet and computers and if teachers have received targeted training and support for online instruction.”
“Giving every community access to affordable, high-speed internet is essential to a fair and equitable recovery. The Office of Economic Revitalization supports the Digital Equity Declaration and looks forward to working with the Council on innovative ways to close the Digital Divide,” said Amy Asselbaye, executive director of the City’s Office of Economic Revitalization, which is a member of the Broadband Hui and a champion of digital equity. OER has led the City effort to provide information and outreach encouraging people to apply for the Emergency Broadband Benefit funding available from the Federal Communications Commission.
The Honolulu City Council is collaborating with the Mayor Blangiardi’s Administration and its Office of Economic Revitalization in emphasizing the importance of Digital Equity for all residents, as part of a larger state and federal effort to narrow, if not close the Digital Divide. Low-income O‘ahu households with no internet subscription or affordable online access are encouraged to apply for a limited-time, federally supported offer for low-cost internet while funding lasts:
For Federal Communications Commission Emergency Broadband Benefit information and an online application: www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit, or call toll-free (833) 511-0311.
Hawaiian Telcom Internet Kokua Program: (808) 643-3456
Spectrum Internet® Assist, toll-free: (855) 243-8892
The Council encourages public participation and engagement in this legislation.
Agenda for Wednesday, June 2, full Honolulu City Council meeting:
https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=10966