Hawaii broadband company gets federal stimulus money as part of $7 billion nationwide plan

Hawaii broadband company gets fed stimulus money

HONOLULU — One of 18 recipients of federal stimulus money to expand high-speed Internet networks is located in Hawaii.

Aloha Broadband Inc. is getting a $106,503 loan with matching funds of $87,405 to bring broadband services to an unserved area in the northern part of the Big Island where there are nearly 600 residents and businesses.

The 18 projects were announced Thursday in Georgia by Vice President Joe Biden.

They are receiving the first $182 million in a $7.2 billion plan to bring high-speed Internet connections to rural areas, poor neighborhoods and Native American communities.

The administration plans to award a total of $2 billion in grants and loans on a rolling basis over the next 75 days as it starts doling out the first round of stimulus funding for broadband.