Calista Land & Natural Resource Department Presents
Storyknife, November/December 2025 edition
When it comes to reliable, affordable internet, many communities along the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers are among the most underserved in the nation.
That is starting to change, and the Alaska FiberOptic Project (AFOP) is part of the solution.
AFOP is 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.
AFOP plans to begin construction in 2026 to deliver high-speed fiber optic internet to seven communities along the Kuskokwim River: Upper Kalskag, Lower Kalskag, Tuluksak, Akiak, Akiachak, Kwethluk and Napakiak.
Household service is estimated to be available in the seven communities as soon as late 2027. Home internet prices and speeds will be the same as those offered in Anchorage and Fairbanks, and reduced rates will be available to schools and healthcare clinics.
This year, after additional research, engineering and planning, AFOP made an important route alignment and design change: the fiber will be buried on land and will not be laid on top of the riverbed. This means the fiber will be better protected and less exposed to breaks. At water crossings (rivers, ponds, etc.), the fiber will be tunneled underneath the affected waterbody.
To provide updates and answer questions about the project, Calista and Alaska Communications held in-person community meetings during August in Tuluksak, Akiak and Akiachak.
Due to weather cancellations, meetings for Lower Kalskag, Upper Kalskag, Napakiak and Kwethluk were rescheduled as virtual meetings in September and October.
Quyana to all who attended those meetings and provided valuable feedback to our team members.
WHY CHOOSE FIBER?
While direct-to-consumer satellite services have arrived in our communities, fiber remains the gold standard of connectivity because it is significantly more reliable and faster than satellite. Also, unlike satellite services, Alaska Communications’ fiber service in the communities served by this project will have zero equipment costs.
Alaska Communications’ customers can apply for the FCC’s Lifeline program which provides a $34.50 per household discount on Tribal land. Satellite customers cannot get the Lifeline discount.
Residents in these communities can sign up to be notified when service is coming to their area.