Hawaii Senate Passes Digital Equity Bill
Hawaii senators voted 24-0 to approve a broadband bill (HB-2359) establishing a digital equity grant program. The House passed the bill almost unanimously last month (see 2403040071) but now must agree with the Senate’s changes. The Senate Energy Committee amended the bill to remove wireless community networks from the list of eligible projects, insert an effective date of Jan. 1, 2060, “to encourage further discussion,” and make technical changes, the committee said March 20.