HONOLULU, Aug. 19, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today Hawaiian Telcom announced that the company has been awarded Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II support of more than $4 million dollars annually for six years to continue expanding High-Speed Internet (HSI) service in Hawai'i's rural areas.
"As Hawaiʻi's Technology Leader, Hawaiian Telcom is committed to continuing its expansion of broadband throughout the state," said Scott Barber, Hawaiian Telcom President and CEO. "CAF Phase II support will allow us to deploy service to island communities that currently have no access to high-speed Internet, which will help to expand economic opportunities and improve quality of life for thousands of Hawai'i residents."
Hawaiian Telcom accepted the CAF Phase II support from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy 10 megabits-per-second (Mbps) downstream and 1 Mbps upstream to more than 11,000 currently unserved locations, primarily on the neighbor islands. Click here to view a map of eligible areas on the FCC's website: https://www.fcc.gov/maps/connect-america-phase-ii-final-eligible-areas-map. Hawaiian Telcom is now working on a deployment timeline for the six-year period, beginning this year through 2020.
In 2011, the FCC created CAF in an effort to reform its Universal Service Fund (USF), which consumers contribute to as a Federal Universal Service Fee on their monthly telephone and wireless bills. According to the FCC, the goal of the reforms, and specifically CAF, is to accelerate broadband build-out to the approximately 23 million Americans (as of December 31, 2013) that lack access to infrastructure capable of providing HSI connectivity. The CAF Phase II support will replace the current annual USF support of approximately $1.9 million that Hawaiian Telcom receives.
With previous CAF Phase I support of about $1.4 million, Hawaiian Telcom deployed HSI service to more than 500 locations within the Orchidland Estates subdivision in Keaʻau on Hawaiʻi Island, and is currently deploying service to more than 1,300 additional locations in the Hawaiʻi Ocean View Estates, Honaunau, Keaʻau, Mountain View and Volcano communities targeted for completion by the end of this year. These locations qualify for 4 Mbps downstream and 1 Mbps upstream. For more information or to order service, please visit hawaiiantel.com or call toll-free (808) 643-3456.
About Hawaiian Telcom
Hawaiian Telcom (Nasdaq:HCOM), headquartered in Honolulu, is Hawai'i's technology leader, providing integrated communications, broadband, data center and entertainment solutions for business and residential customers. With roots in Hawai'i beginning in 1883, the Company offers a full range of services including Internet, video, voice, wireless, data network solutions and security, colocation, and managed and cloud services supported by the reach and reliability of its next generation fiber network and a 24/7 state-of-the-art network operations center. With employees statewide sharing a commitment to innovation and a passion for delivering superior service, Hawaiian Telcom provides an Always OnSM customer experience. For more information, visit www.hawaiiantel.com.
The Hawaiian Telcom Holdco, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=10087