FCC Grants Licenses To Department of Hawaiian Home Lands To Build Wireless Networks

The Federal Communications Commission approved a grant that would provide the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands ownership of broadband spectrum to deploy wireless internet services on Kaua‘i, Lāna‘i, Moloka‘i and Maui.

US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), the top Democrat on the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, the Internet and Innovation, said that people can expect faster and more reliable internet service with the announcement.

“We all know how important internet access has become during this pandemic as we try work or go to school from home so this is good news,” Schatz added.

The new FCC licenses provide for the exclusive use of up to 117.5 megahertz of 2.5 GHz band spectrum that can be used by DHHL to create their own wireless networks.

The buildout is expected to be completed by 2022.