Blog // Connect Alaska

08/30/12

FCC Visit Addresses Ongoing Effort to Fix Alaska’s Broadband Gap

By Jeremy Thacker

Alaska’s broadband gap has the attention of the Federal Communications Commission. In fact, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel just wrapped up a special trip to Anchorage in an ongoing effort to bridge the state’s digital divide. Commissioner Rosenworcel and Senator Mark Begich were part of a roundtable discussion at the Dena’ina Center with the state’s Broadband Task Force members. After the meeting, the commissioner spent the week visiting several rural communities across Alaska where broadband service is notoriously slow, costly, and in short supply. Anchorage’s Channel 2 News covered the commissioner’s visit. You can get more of...

08/22/12

Alaskans pay average of $25 more for broadband service

By CAK Staff

Contributor: Dev Joshi, Research Analyst Approximately 141,000 Alaskans do not subscribe to broadband service in their home, according to the 2011 Connect Alaska Residential Assessment. While availability is a concern for Alaskans who live outside of the major urban hubs, cost is cited most often statewide as the top reason for not subscribing to broadband. In Alaska, the median monthly bill paid by current broadband subscribers is $63 per month, which is $25 higher than the rest of the nine states surveyed. Connect Alaska surveys show that 44% of Alaskan non-adopters report that they would subscribe to broadband service if the price...

08/20/12

Inaugural Board for FirstNet Public Safety Network Announced

By Connected Nation

Today the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) within the Department of Commerce announced the composition of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Board. FirstNet was created earlier this year by Congress through the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act with the mandate to create a nationwide interoperable wireless broadband network that will enable police, firefighters, emergency medical service professionals, and other public safety officials to more effectively communicate and do their jobs. The Act mandates the NTIA to form a FirstNet Board by August 20 comprised of 15...