Kauaʻi Broadband Storymap

This page has been kept active for anyone who wants to read up and do a deep-dive into Kauaʻi's journey towards bridging the digital divide.

At the County of Kauaʻi, we recognize the importance of internet connectivity in our growing community and economy. Access to reliable and high-speed broadband internet not only improves the quality of life for citizens but also opens up opportunities for economic growth, innovation, and job creation. High-speed internet enables faster and more reliable access to online resources and services, making it suitable for streaming, telehealth, online education, gaming, video conferencing, and remote work.

While we are becoming increasingly reliant on the internet for our careers, education, healthcare, and every day life - there are some in our community without access to it. Whether they lack access to the internet because of the cost, or because they live in a remote area, or because they don't know how to use it - it's become evident that there is a digital divide in our community. To bridge this digital divide, the Federal Government allocated millions of dollars to Hawaiʻi (through the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program) to increase access to high speed internet by paying for the necessary internet infrastructure and to invest in digital equity programs, ensuring that everyone has access to the digital tools, training, and resources needed to fully participate in our society and economy.

Drum roll please.....

To ensure that all of Kauaʻi is properly and accurately accounted for, we have to challenge the data with our own evidence. You might have a valid challenge if:

• Your home doesn't have wired internet
• Your only option for home internet is through a cell phone provider
• Your only option for home internet is through satellite internet
• You live too far away from the main road and the internet service provider will only install internet if you pay to have the infrastructure put in place
• Your internet is too slow - video games lag, videos buffer, and video calls freeze or drop

Join us at a Challenge Training near you and learn everything you need to have your home’s connectivity accurately recorded! At the Challenge Trainings, we will walk you through the process and explain what kind of documentation you need to prove that you have a valid challenge. You will learn everything you need to know to ensure that you, your family, and your neighborhood are accounted for. If you're accounted for, you may be eligible for assistance with your internet connectivity.

• Kekaha Neighborhood Center
  • July 17th, 2024 from 6:00pm - 7:00pm
  • 8130 Elepaio Rd., Kekaha, HI, 96752
• Waimea Neighborhood Center
  • July 18th, 2024 from 6:00pm - 7:00pm
  • 4556 Makeke Rd., Waimea, HI, 96796
• Lihue Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall - with Kupuna Connections
  • July 31st, 2024 from 2:00pm - 3:00pm
  • 4191 Hardy St, Lihue, HI 96766
• Hanalei Neighborhood Center
  • August 15th, 2024 from 6:00pm - 7:00pm
  • 5-5358 Kuhio Hwy., Hanalei, HI, 96714
• More Training Sessions Will Be Announced Soon!

If you would like to attend a Challenge Training and you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact Nate Prescott at (808) 241-4948 as soon as possible. Requests made as early as possible will allow adequate time to fulfill your request.

Have no fear, you will learn every thing you need to know at the Challenge Trainings, but if you want to be better prepared, here are some ways that you can document the validity of your challenge:

• If your home doesn't have wired internet - you need to save an email from an internet service provider saying that they cannot provide service to your home.
• If your only option for home internet is through a cell phone provider - you need to save an email from an internet service provider saying that they cannot provide service to your home. This proves that your cell phone provider is the only option for you.
• If your only option for home internet is through satellite internet - you need to save an email from an internet service provider saying that they cannot provide service to your home. This proves that satellite internet is the only option for you.
• If you live too far away from the main road and the internet service provider will only install internet if you pay to have the infrastructure put in place - you need to save an email from an internet service provider showing what it would cost you to be hooked up to the internet.
• If your internet is too slow - video games lag, videos buffer, and video calls freeze or drop - you need to  save screenshots  of three different  speed tests  from three different days, all occurring after June 20, 2024. If the download speed is consistently below 100 mbps, you may have a valid speed challenge.

If you believe that your internet connectivity is lacking, you should submit a challenge! If your home doesn't have ACCESS to high-speed internet, you would submit an AVAILABILITY challenge. If you have internet but your SPEED is too slow, you have a SPEED challenge.

Your home doesn't have access to the internet. What you need to submit an availability challenge:

• An email, letter, or screenshot, taken within the last six months, showing Spectrum/Hawaiian Tel cannot serve your home address with high-speed internet because:
  • You cannot sign up for service either online or by contacting Spectrum/Hawaiian Tel.
  • Service would cost you $$$$ or additional infrastructure built.

Your home has internet, but your speeds are too slow. What you need to submit a speed challenge:

• Must be subscribed to an internet plan of at least 100/20 mbps
• Must submit screenshots of 3 speed tests from 3 different days
  • Screen shots must show time, date, latency (ping), and IP address
  • Official speed tests should be done with cellular data turned off and as close to the router as possible
• Must submit speed tests must be done between 7pm and 11pm
• Must submit a copy of your last internet bill

Watch these step-by-step instructions for how to submit Availability and Speed Challenges

Spectrum and Hawaiian Tel both have low-cost high-speed internet plans for low-income households.

•  Spectrum - Spectrum Internet Assist 

•  Hawaiian Tel - Fioptics Internet Assistance 

As the world becomes increasingly digitized, internet connectivity has become a vital aspect of modern life. From communication and information access to e-commerce and online education, the internet has revolutionized the way we interact with the world around us. At the County of Kauaʻi, we recognize the importance of internet connectivity in our growing community and economy. Access to reliable and high-speed broadband internet not only improves the quality of life for citizens but also opens up opportunities for economic growth, innovation, and job creation.

So what is "Broadband"? In simple terms, broadband is the technology allowing you to connect to the internet. Broadband's high-speed connectivity enables faster and more reliable access to online resources and services. Unlike traditional dial-up connections, broadband utilizes a wider range of frequencies to transmit data, which allows for faster download and upload speeds. This type of internet connection is suitable for a variety of internet needs, including streaming video and music, telehealth, online schooling, online gaming, video conferencing, and working from home. Broadband infrastructure includes cables, fiber-optic lines, wireless networks, and satellite systems that transmit data at high speeds. This infrastructure connects homes, businesses, and communities to the internet and enables faster access to online resources and services.

The Kauaʻi Broadband Storymap is our endeavor to inform Kauaʻi residents about where our broadband connectivity needs are, and where opportunities lie.

As you can see in Figure 1, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) believes that the majority of Kauaʻi is served with high-speed internet. Despite what the FCC says, many on Kauaʻi feel that their internet is a far-cry from "high-speed". To know if your internet needs are being served, first turn off your cellular data, and then go to  speedtest.net  and click "GO" to test it out. The results of the speedtest are easy enough to understand:

• If speed is greater than 100 mbps down, 20 mbps up - you are considered SERVED
• If speed is between 100 mbps down, 20 mbps up and 25 mbps down, 3 mbps up - you are considered UNDERSERVED
• If speed is less than 25 mbps down, 3 mbps up - you are considered UNSERVED

The above map claims that the majority of Kauaʻi's internet needs are SERVED, and claims that the majority of Kauaʻi homes have speeds over 100 mbps down and 20 mbps up. Many on Kauaʻi believe that that the FCC's claims are false, and that many on Kauaʻi are UNDERSERVED or UNSERVED. The problem with the FCC's claims, is that federal funding will be decided based on who needs help, and the map claims that Kauaʻi doesn't need any help with broadband since we're all served.

1. Improving Broadband Infrastructure
2. Increasing Digital Equity
3. Identifying Community Anchor Institutions

Kauaʻi currently has two cables that reach the island at Wailua. These two cables share a location and share conduit at the landing site - meaning that any issue with either of the cables could cause an island-wide internet blackout (remember October 2019?). Kauaʻi currently has no functioning backup cables to provide internet redundancy, leaving us dangerously reliant on one source of broadband.

One of Kauaʻi's broadband goals is to increase redundancy through an increase in broadband infrastructure. In technical terms, we are planning to build middle-mile and last-mile broadband infrastructure. Middle-mile broadband infrastructure mainly refers to building more cables between the Hawaiian Islands, and last-mile broadband infrastructure refers to expanding conduit throughout the island to provide high-speed internet to more Kauaʻi residents.

Digital equity is the idea that everyone should have fair and equal access to technology and the internet, regardless of their income or geographical location. It means that everyone should be able to use technology to learn, work, communicate, and access important services. Additionally, increased internet connectivity can facilitate greater access to vital services such as telemedicine and online banking, which can help to improve the quality of life for many people. Digital equity is important because technology is becoming more and more essential to our daily lives, and not having access can limit opportunities and create disadvantages. By prioritizing the expansion of internet infrastructure and access, we can ensure that everyone has equal opportunities to participate in the digital economy and take advantage of the many benefits that technology has to offer.

Community anchor institutions, including schools, libraries, hospitals, and emergency response centers, play a vital role in supporting our community's well-being and resilience. During times of crisis, such as natural disasters or public emergencies, these institutions become essential hubs for information dissemination, communication, and coordination. By ensuring community anchor institutions have proper internet coverage, we can safeguard their ability to provide crucial services, facilitate emergency response efforts, and keep our community connected and informed during challenging times.