Alaska Communications broadband expansion is bringing high-speed internet to more than 16,000 rural Alaskans, the company announced today. The expansion was made possible, in part, by the Connect America Fund II, or CAF II.
Alaska Communications hopes to double the amount of Alaskans receiving high-speed service by 2025 through the expansion program that started in 2017. Communities currently receiving upgraded services include Delta Junction, Fairbanks, Homer, Hope, Kenai, Klawock, Larsen Bay, Ninilchik, North Kenai, North Pole, Seldovia and Soldotna. The company expects to deliver high-speed internet to Coffman Cove, Hoonah, Kake, Kasilof, Sterling and Thorne Bay by the end of the year.
Upon completion, the Alaska Communications CAF II project will be the state’s single largest deployment of broadband, according to the company, which offers download speeds of at least 10 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 1 Mbps. It delivers higher speeds, up to 50 Mbps download, 10 Mbps upload, when possible.
Alaska Communications previously disclosed that fixed wireless technology is playing a significant role in its CAF II funded projects.. Customers pay a flat monthly fee of $89.99. There are no overage charges for data usage.
The network expansion is funded in part through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF II) program. Alaska Communications was allocated approximately $19.7 million per year for 10 years, starting in 2016, to help deploy broadband to about 32,000 locations in Alaska.
“Alaska Communications is pleased to reach this important milestone expanding its high-speed broadband network to rural Alaskans. We know how critical broadband is for education, healthcare, economic development and quality of life,” said Bill Bishop, Alaska Communications president and CEO, in a prepared statement in the Alaska Communications CAF II update.
