Region receives more than $73 million for fiber broadband service through
two federal grants
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Oct. 10,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Affordable, reliable, high-speed
internet is coming to Western
Alaska! Bethel Native Corporation (BNC), in partnership with
GCI, Alaska's largest
telecommunications company, today announced the launch of a
partnership to bring fiber-optic connectivity to Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. The project
will bring 2 gigabit internet speeds and affordable plans to more
than 10,000 Alaskans.
At an event held in Anchorage at
the Alaska Native Heritage Center on Indigenous Peoples' Day, the
partners announced more than $73
million in broadband grants recently awarded by the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Tribal
Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) and the USDA's Rural
Utilities Service ReConnect program.
The partners announced the new project name, the Airraq Network
(pronounced EYE-huck). Airraq, a traditional Yup'ik game
similar to cat's cradle, translates to "string that tells the
story."
ABOUT THE GRANTS
The Bethel Native Corporation has been awarded a $42 million grant from the NTIA to build a fiber
network to Bethel, Platinum, Eek, Napaskiak, and Oscarville.
- The 405-mile network will start in Dillingham, follow a submarine route to the
mouth of the Kuskokwim River, and then transition to an overland
route to Bethel.
- As BNC's subgrantee partner, GCI will construct and operate the
fiber network.
- GCI will upgrade its existing cable plant in Bethel and deploy fiber-to-the-premises local
access networks in the four other communities.
- Consumers in these communities will have access to 2 gig
consumer broadband service plans that include unlimited data and
affordable prices. Customers who qualify for the Affordable
Connectivity Program will be eligible for free internet
service.
- The service is scheduled to launch in Bethel at the end of 2024.
- The Bethel fiber project will
connect in Dillingham to another
NTIA-funded fiber project to be constructed by Nushagak Telephone,
which, in turn, connects to an USDA RUS-funded fiber network that
connects to Anchorage. By
leveraging other federal investment, BNC and GCI are using every
NTIA Bethel grant dollar in the most efficient way possible.
GCI has been awarded a $31 million
USDA RUS ReConnect grant to construct long-haul fiber and local
fiber in the Y-K Delta communities of Atmautluak, Kasigluk, Nunapitchuk, Quinhagak, and Tuntutuliak.
- GCI will construct and operate the fiber and will deploy
fiber-to-the-premises local access networks in the five
communities.
- Consumers in these communities will receive 2 gig consumer
broadband service plans that include access to unlimited data and
affordable prices. Customers who qualify for the Affordable
Connectivity Program will be eligible for free internet
service.
- This project will connect to the Bethel fiber, leveraging federal dollars in an
efficient way.
"The residents of the 10 grant communities are now looking
forward to faster speeds, more data and having much more affordable
plans in the coming years," said BNC President & CEO
Ana Hoffman. "The people of
the Y-K Delta are resourceful, respectful and resilient. We have a
strong sense of community, and we depend upon collaboration with
our friends and neighbors to be successful. We know the value
of presence, and that is why I have so much confidence in this
partnership between BNC and GCI and our collective commitment to
deliver this service together."
"Ana is fond of saying 'a first-class people deserve a
first-class internet service.' We couldn't agree more," said GCI
President & COO Greg
Chapados. "GCI pledges to the people of the Y-K Delta,
our partner BNC, and NTIA and RUS that we will build and operate a
first-rate network that will not just narrow, but eliminate the
rural-urban digital divide for the 10,000-plus residents of
Bethel and the other served
communities."
In addition to Indigenous and community stakeholders, the push
for federal support of Alaska's
broadband projects, including the Airraq Network, also received
broad support from state and federal leaders.
"I was a big supporter of these projects and am thrilled about
this announcement," said Alaska
Gov. Mike Dunleavy. "These types
of infrastructure projects are some of the most important
investments in Alaska today. These
projects will finally bring high-speed, affordable internet to
homes, businesses, schools, and health care facilities. High-speed
broadband service will attract more investment in Alaska; it will grow our economy. Most
importantly, it will create more job opportunities for our youth in
the communities where they live."
"Congratulations to Bethel Native Corporation and to all the
villages in the area that are going to stand to benefit from this
expansion of broadband," said Sen. Lisa
Murkowski. "We've been working hard on the
infrastructure bill, doing everything that we can to try to help
facilitate, through NTIA, these grants and opportunities that will
be coming to really connect all of Alaska, and most particularly rural
Alaska. From Kasigluk to Eek, you're going to see benefits. This is
good reason for celebration and I'm glad to be part of it."
"Access to high-speed, reliable internet can be life-changing
for a community, enhancing the delivery of health care and
education, and opening doors for small businesses and
entrepreneurs," said Sen. Dan
Sullivan. "Many of our rural, Alaska Native communities
for too long have found themselves without
the broadband connectivity that most Americans take for
granted. I'm glad to see the significant federal infrastructure
dollars we secured being deployed to break down the digital divide
and improve the lives and wellbeing of thousands of Alaskans
across the Lower Kuskokwim region."
"On this Indigenous Peoples' Day, I'm honored to join you in
celebrating the NTIA and USDA awards to Bethel Native Corporation
and GCI," said Rep. Mary
Peltola. "With this funding, fiber service will be
brought to residents in 10 communities, including Bethel, my home. My kids and I can't wait to
enjoy the service we will have there once it's constructed. And the
name for the network is just perfect."
"It was a real pleasure to be able to visit with so many of you
in August," said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson, recalling his trip to
Western Alaska over the summer. "I
was honored on that trip to meet with so many community members in
places like Napaskiak and
Napakiak and Bethel to hear firsthand from leading
educators and health professionals. It was honestly humbling for me
and for our team that was there to hear firsthand, to see the real
connectivity challenges that people are facing on the ground and
the real impacts that these grants could make. We know that
delivering connectivity to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is critical,
as we were hearing; access to jobs, healthcare, education, all the
things that your community needs, but as you so clearly showed us
on this visit, this is not just about bringing the internet to the
Y-K Delta, this is also about bringing you all, your communities,
your local knowledge, your beautiful culture to the broader
internet community. And for that I think we are all going to be
very grateful."
"It's incredible, this big lift, and USDA Rural Development is
so thrilled to just be a piece of that federal funding and we're so
excited to be working alongside tribes, municipalities, and
telecommunications companies like GCI to connect really remote and
rural communities," said USDA Rural Development State Director
for Alaska Julia Hnilicka. "I've
had the honor to go out to the Y-K Delta a few times this summer
and I have just been, as a lifelong Alaskan, so blown away by the
beauty and the complexity of culture and I'm beyond-words-thrilled
to be a part of even a small part of sharing that culture with the
world. Internet connectivity is not just about what it brings in,
but what we are able to share out from Alaska as well."
"It has truly been my honor to work with the Bethel Native
Corporation as well as GCI as we've worked through the process of
bringing this application forward to fruition," said NTIA
Division Chief, Tribal Connectivity and Nation to Nation
Coordination Adam Geisler. "We're entering an age now where
access to affordable, reliable broadband service is going to be at
your fingertips here in the very near future and, again, I want to
emphasize affordability."
About BNC
Bethel Native Corporation is respected as a business leader with
offices in Bethel, Anchorage and the Lower 48. Bethel's companies engage in many diverse
lines of business including government contracting, construction,
logistical support, environmental remediation and commercial real
estate. Learn more about BNC at https://bethelnativecorp.org.
About GCI
Headquartered in Alaska, GCI
provides data, mobile, video, voice and managed services to
consumer, business, government, and carrier customers throughout
Alaska, serving more than 200
communities. The company has invested more than $4 billion in its Alaska network and facilities and has been
serving Alaska for more than 40
years. GCI launched Alaska's first
1 gig and 2 gig internet service and Alaska's first standards-based 5G NR service.
Learn more about GCI at www.gci.com. GCI is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK,
LBRDP). Learn more about Liberty Broadband at
http://www.libertybroadband.com.
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SOURCE Bethel Native Corporation; GCI