#Federal Communications Commission
Hate robocallers? Now, Hawaiʻi AG is calling them on state and federal violations
April 14, 2025 · 2:00 AM UTC
Attorney General Anne Lopez joined 50 attorneys general of the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force to warn nine voice service providers that they may be violating state and federal laws by routing allegedly unlawful robocalls across their networks. The task force issued warning letters with information about its investigation and analysis of each provider’s illegal […]
Attorney general calls on FCC to strengthen vetting process to block robocallers
November 17, 2024 · 7:00 PM UTC
Attorney General Anne Lopez and a bipartisan coalition of 46 attorneys general is calling on the Federal Communications Commission to improve its Robocall Mitigation Database and close what they say has effectively been an unmonitored loophole that bad actors exploit to access the US telephone network.
Hawaiʻi Attorney General urges FCC to restrict AI use in telemarketing
January 20, 2024 · 8:00 PM UTC
Attorney General Anne Lopez joins a coalition of 26 states in sending a letter to the Federal Communications Commission emphasizing the potential harm in the use of artificial intelligence by telemarketers and asking the federal government to strongly restrict such usage.
Maui fire survivors now eligible for federal program to lower cost of phone, internet
August 27, 2023 · 8:10 PM UTC
The Federal Communications Commission has temporarily waived certain eligibility rules to ensure that people receiving federal disaster assistance due to the Maui fires can easily apply for and enroll in Lifeline, a federal program that helps lower the cost of phone and internet service for those in need.
Senate passes legislation to help domestic violence survivors cut ties with abusers
March 20, 2022 · 5:15 PM UTC
The US Senate unanimously passed the Safe Connections Act, bipartisan legislation that seeks to help survivors of domestic violence and other crimes cut ties with their abusers and separate from shared wireless service plans, which can be exploited to monitor, stalk, or control victims.
Hawaiʻi Attorney General joins coalition to stop international scam calls
January 11, 2022 · 8:07 PM UTC
Hawai‘i Attorney General Holly T. Shikada joined a bipartisan coalition that urged the Federal Communications Commission to implement measures to help stop international illegal robocalls intended to scam Americans.
All 50 State Attorneys General Support FCC’s Efforts Targeting Illegal Robocallers
November 19, 2021 · 8:54 PM UTC
A letter signed by all 50 State Attorneys General and the District of Columbia was sent today to the Federal Communications Commission in support of its efforts to reduce illegal robocallers’ access to legitimate phone numbers to make unending robocalls that scam people.
Starting Sunday, You Must Dial Area Code 808 for All Hawai’i Calls
October 20, 2021 · 10:09 PM UTC
Starting Sunday, Oct. 24, the Hawai’i area code 808 must be used for all Hawai’i phone numbers.
Beginning Oct. 24, Don’t Forget to Dial Area Code 808 for All Hawaiʻi Phone Numbers
September 23, 2021 · 10:06 PM UTC
Starting Oct. 24, 2021, the Hawaiʻi area code 808 must be used for all Hawaiʻi phone numbers.
The change to 10-digit dialing for local calls is driven by the Federal Communications Commission’s order to use “988” as the three-digit code to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline starting on July 16, 2022
University of Hawai‘i Set To Receive $320,000 To Launch Telehealth Pilot Project
June 20, 2021 · 5:01 PM UTC
The program provides up to $100 million from the Universal Service Fund over a three-year period to selected applicants to support the provision of connected care services, especially for low-income and veteran patients.
New Emergency Broadband Benefit Program to Help with Internet Access to Low-Income
May 6, 2021 · 1:33 AM UTC
Under the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program established by the Federal Communications Commission, eligible households can receive up to $50 a month to pay for broadband service. Qualifying lessees on Hawaiian Home Lands may apply for an enhanced benefit of up to $75 per month.
Transition to 10-Digit Dialing (Area Code + Number) to Begin on April 24
April 6, 2021 · 6:30 PM UTC
Hawai‘i is among 36 states that uses the “988” prefix and must transition to 10-digit dialing for local calls.
FCC Grants Dept. of Hawaiian Home Lands Two More Broadband Licenses
March 4, 2021 · 12:11 AM UTC
The Federal Communications Commission approved two additional applications submitted by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for broadband licenses in response to a Rural Tribal Priority Window.
FCC Awards $24 Million to Hawaiian Telecom for Rural Broadband Deployment
February 3, 2021 · 10:25 PM UTC
The Federal Communications Commission has awarded Hawaiian Telecom $24 million to continue deploying fiber broadband service to rural areas in Hawai‘i.
FCC Grants Licenses To Department of Hawaiian Home Lands To Build Wireless Networks
October 28, 2020 · 7:59 AM UTC
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.
DHHL Submits Wireless Spectrum Applications to FCC
August 17, 2020 · 1:30 AM UTC
The waiver affirms DHHL as the only entity with the legal standing to apply in the Window and implement broadband service on Hawaiian Home Lands.
Hirono Joins Call for Additional Funds to Boost Internet Connectivity
April 16, 2020 · 11:53 PM UTC
The Lifeline program extends access to internet and television services to low-income Americans for free or at a reduced cost.
FCC Nationwide Test of Emergency Alert System, Aug. 7
August 3, 2019 · 7:52 PM UTC
The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. The test code used will be the National Periodic Test (NPT). Unlike last year’s test, there will be no Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) test accompanying the EAS test. […]
Schatz Leads Effort to Combat Robocalls
April 15, 2019 · 6:34 AM UTC
Sen. Brian Schatz, the lead Democrat on the Senate Telecommunications Subcommittee, led a hearing on Thursday to review the actions the federal government can take to stop illegal robocalls. “Frustration with illegal robocalls is something that crosses state lines, party lines, and phone lines and unites Americans everywhere,” Schatz said. “Robocalls have turned us into […]
Senate Passes Legislation to Improve Emergency Alerts
December 31, 2018 · 9:48 PM UTC
The US Senate unanimously passed the Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement (READI) Act on Dec. 17. The bipartisan legislation, which Sens. Brian Schatz, John Thune, and Roger Wicker introduced, aims to ensure that more people receive emergency alerts on their mobile phones, televisions, and radios. The legislation will also explore new ways of alerting the […]