Alaska FiberOptic Project Update
Service Expected in Late 2026
Storyknife, November/December 2024 edition
By the end of 2026, households in seven communities along the Kuskokwim River—Upper Kalskag, Lower Kalskag, Tuluksak, Akiak, Akiachak, Kwethluk and Napakiak—are expected to receive high-speed fiber optic internet.
The seven communities will be served by the Alaska FiberOptic Project, a collaboration between Calista Corporation, Doyon Limited, Gana-A ‘Yoo Limited, Tanana Chiefs Conference and Alaska Communications to provide reliable, affordable broadband to communities along the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers.
In August, representatives from Calista and Alaska Communications held community meetings to provide updates and discuss the project with local residents. These meetings influence the project as it moves through permitting. The locations of beach manholes, for example, have already changed due to community advice.
Did you read the sentence above and wonder, ‘What is a beach manhole?’ It’s the underground chamber where an underwater fiber optic cable will be connected to one buried in the ground.
This winter’s project tasks include working on final land routes and issuing a request for proposals (RFP) for the construction of eight central office (CO) structures. Those structures are the locations where fiber will be distributed out to homes and other local buildings.
During fiber buildout in the communities, residents will receive an exterior device mounted to the outside of their homes, free of charge. It’s like getting an electric meter from a utility. The exterior devices are paid for by a Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program grant. Installing them is necessary to receive high-speed fiber optic internet service but doesn’t obligate anyone to purchase service.
Some households are being served by direct-to-consumer satellite services. Fiber is considered to be significantly more reliable than satellite and Alaska Communications’ fiber service in the communities served by this project will have $0 equipment costs. Alaska Communications’ customers can apply for the Lifeline program which provides a $34.50 per household discount on Tribal land. Satellite customers cannot get the Lifeline discount.