Since 2018, Burt Lum has held the post of Broadband Strategy Office and State Broadband Coordinator, in the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. In his current role, he is dedicated to digital equity and ensuring that all Hawaii residents have access to robust, resilient, and affordable connectivity to the global broadband Internet. A few of the key projects Burt oversees is the development of the statewide digital equity plan, digital equity grants, the FCC Affordable Connectivity Program, the establishment and management of the Broadband Hui, indigenous broadband networks and the creation of Hawaii’s digital economy study. He also provides outreach and marketing support for the digital skills project at the Libraries and DOE Adult Schools, a congressional earmark from Congressman Ed Case. He also supports the Hawaiian Islands Fiber Project, funded by the U.S. Treasury through the Capital Projects Fund. In 2023, Burt was recognized by the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society as the Digital Equity Champion of the Year. Burt was also inducted into the Hawaii Junior Achievement Hall of Fame in 2023.

Burt Lum was previously the Executive Director of Hawaii Open Data, a non-profit 501(c)3 dedicated to advancing the principles of open data/knowledge in Hawaii, including policy work and community collaborations. He has more than 30 years in Hawaii’s technology and telecommunications sector and is a frequent speaker, instructor and panelist on the topic of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).