Hunter is appointed special assistant for broadband program

Glen Hunter

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios has created a position of special assistant for Broadband Policy and Development Program within the Office of the Governor and appointed Glen Hunter to head the operation and administration of the program.

In a directive Friday, Palacios said the establishment of a broadband program will make the CNMI better equipped to improve the quality of life of its residents through equitable access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet, and its social, educational, healthcare, and economic benefits.

“The Broadband Policy and Development Program is very critical for our Commonwealth. With more resources becoming available from the federal government for upgrading broadband and communications, we have to put together a plan in order to make this a reality,” Palacios said in a statement yesterday.

The governor also on Friday appointed Hunter to serve as the special assistant for BPDP. The appointment will not require Senate’s confirmation. “With Glen’s background in small business, Information Technology, business management, and his previous experience dealing with broadband for underserved and unserved communities in Micronesia, we are confident that he will be able to lead the Commonwealth’s broadband strategy to expand internet access to all of our communities,” Palacios added in his statement yesterday.

An Office of the Governor news release yesterday quotes Hunter as saying he is grateful for the opportunity to serve the community in this capacity. “It is an honor to have been given such a significant responsibility to contribute to the region’s development,” said Hunter. “I am excited to work alongside this administration and this team on such a critical issue as improving broadband infrastructure. I understand the importance of this issue and its impact on the economic growth of the Northern Mariana Islands. ..I look forward to collaborating with you all and the community to create a brighter future for our Commonwealth.”

In his directive creating the position, Palacios said the special assistant shall assist him and the CNMI government perform and carry out functions and duties necessary to develop and implementation broadband strategy for the Commonwealth that promotes advanced broadband network services, expands the digital economy, increases consumer options, promotes digital literacy, increases broadband equity, and supports access and affordability for residents across the islands.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program launched by President Joe Biden under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aims to improve access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet through grant funding to all states and territories, including the CNMI.

Palacios stated this makes available to the CNMI at least $25 million to build infrastructure and increase adoption of high-speed internet, with priority placed on unserved and underserved areas.

In addition to the BEAD Program, Palacios said millions more in federal dollars are available to the CNMI for broadband infrastructure and development through other funding streams, including at least $14 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund, $3.4 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Digital Equity Program, and up $5 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community ReConnect Program.