Ramona Adams
Alaska Communications has secured a potential 10-year, $197 million order from the Federal Communications Commission to deploy broadband to rural locations in Alaska.
The company said Tuesday it will provide internet service to 31,500 locations across the state including approximately 26,000 unserved areas as part of FCC’s Connect America Fund Phase II program.
FCC will issue $19.7 million in funds every year for 10 years to help Alaska Communications offer a download capacity of at least 10 megabits per second and an upload speed of 1 Mbps.
Alaska Communications will develop a build-out plan for the provision of broadband services over a 10-year period.
FCC formed CAF II in 2011 to transition Universal Service Fund money for rural landline voice service into the development of broadband infrastructure to facilitate internet access in “high-cost” locations.
