Technology, Media & Telecom

Technology companies have found multiple ways to assist with COVID-19 relief, including but not limited to repurposing manufacturing facilities for mask production, offering services pro-bono for COVID-19 related projects, or repurposing their platforms to help other organizations with COVID-19 response. Some recent examples can be found in local and national media outlets.

What is the State of Hawai’i doing to ensure residents can stay connected during COVID-19?

Hawaiʻi’s Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is offering a COVID-19 crisis waiver for those who have recently become eligible for subsidized low-cost internet service due to the pandemic. Coverage of these waivers includes the Lifeline program, which provides federally subsidized access to voice and broadband services for low-income households that qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicaid, or by showing that their household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines.

To make it easier for those who have lost their employment during the pandemic and who qualify for Lifeline benefits to enroll in the Lifeline program, the FCC has waived the requirement that consumers seeking to demonstrate income-based qualification for the Lifeline program must provide at least three consecutive months of documentation to confirm their income.

For more information, see the DCCA website.