New high-speed internet is revolutionizing rural Alaska

­­Presented by NCTA – The Internet & Television Association

Many of Alaska’s rural areas have long lacked reliable, high-speed internet access. But now, some of these remote communities are at the forefront of a historic federal investment in broadband.

In her role as GCI’s director of rural affairs, Jenifer Nelson is helping to bring broadband to the entire Aleutian Islands region.

“This is a transformational service,” said Nelson. “It is bringing digital equity and closing the digital divide.”

Nelson’s hometown, King Cove, recently gained access to high-speed internet thanks to GCI’s Aleutian Fiber Project.

A new documentary from NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, “Every Last Mile,” captures the remarkable connectivity transformation of this remote town. Previously, residents relied on dial-up internet that was so slow it was nearly unusable.

“It was hard to send a picture via email,” said Nelson.

King Cove is not alone. Alaska ranks 50th in broadband connectivity by the Federal Communications Commission.

GCI, alongside its federal and Tribal partners, is helping to change that by overcoming incredible obstacles to build new infrastructure in the region.

Connecting ‘Every Last Mile’

The project coincides with an unprecedented federal investment to expand high-speed internet access.

The Internet for All initiative includes a $42.45 billion allocation through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. Alaska is expected to receive over $1 billion in broadband expansion funds.

“The BEAD program is the largest single investment in broadband infrastructure ever,” said Brian Dietz, senior vice president of strategic communications at NCTA. “It’s a historic opportunity for the country to connect every community to modern internet service.”

NCTA is a national trade association representing America’s cable industry. Its members are committed to building high-speed networks throughout the country.

“Every community deserves the same kind of access. Just because someone lives in a rural or remote area doesn’t mean they should be left behind and not have access to modern technology that can improve their life,” said Dietz.

King Cove’s roughly 750 residents now have access to 2.5-gigabit internet, transforming daily life.

The project is a bright spot for King Cove, which recently lost a main economic driver, its fish processing plant.

The new broadband “will allow those communities to be resilient and pivot and find their next thing to keep them alive,” said Nelson.

Local businesses now spend less time struggling with their internet connection. Artisans sell crafts online, and the local clinic can send medical records faster, boosting residents’ health outcomes.

Yet connecting these remote communities requires extensive planning and persistence. NCTA’s film, “Every Last Mile,” immerses viewers in the gritty reality of expanding high-speed internet access and closing America’s digital divide. It follows three crews, including GCI in King Cove, as they navigate the complex process of broadband installation.

The film depicts crews battling stormy weather and unexpected obstacles, like unmarked utilities. Once, strong winds even tipped over a trailer full of supplies, said Nelson.

“There’s constant risk,” GCI construction manager Jed Hagan said in the film.

To protect local history, GCI employed an on-site archaeologist to ensure artifacts were preserved during construction.

“There’s a known village site [in King Cove] from 5,000 years ago that’s been inhabited off and on over the last thousand years,” Sean Mack, GCI archaeologist, says in the film. “It’s incredibly important to have people out here to protect and preserve the Indigenous community’s historical record.”

The film shows GCI’s successful completion of the project. For Nelson, who is also featured in the film, it was deeply meaningful.

“It’s definitely personal when you’re building infrastructure to impact your community, your region, your family. It was important to get it done, and it was important to make sure we did it in a way that was respectful for the community,” she said.

After years of groundwork, ending the ‘data diet’

Over six years in the making, the Aleutian Fiber Project has connected Unalaska, King Cove, Sand Point and Akutan. Work continues in Chignik Bay and Larsen Bay, with future phases targeting additional remote communities in the area.

Once GCI received funding, it had two years to connect Unalaska. Some in the telecom industry doubted GCI’s ability to make it happen, “but we did it,” said Nelson.

The project’s success underscores NCTA’s broader mission to connect every American. Current federal funding builds upon the $2.1 trillion in private capital invested since 1996 to build and upgrade America’s broadband networks.

“As the film shows, this is really tough work,” said Dietz. “There’s lots of unpredictable costs and challenges. So, we are keeping focused on the mission at hand to get the job done and take advantage of this historic opportunity.”

This commitment has already made a tangible impact on the community, bringing residents closer together.

In a region where high school basketball reigns supreme, the new connectivity allows fans to stream games online. This year, King Cove hosted a community virtual watch party to cheer on the boys’ team in the state championship game—and they won.

“They were able to be there in real time and witness that, which is something they wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise,” said Nelson.

The internet also encourages a greater connection to home. Nelson’s teenagers are excited to return to her hometown for extended periods now that they can stay connected to their lives in Anchorage.

“It’s super important to have people that live in communities where their ancestors might have lived for 10,000 years to be able to stay there and have access to what the rest of us enjoy, living in urban settings,” said Nelson.

And now, when Nelson video chats with her family in King Cove, “there’s no more of that ‘data diet,’” she laughed.

NCTA represents America’s cable industry – the nation’s largest broadband provider with fiber-rich networks reaching 85% of all U.S. homes, offering 1 gig speeds to millions in urban and rural communities.

This story was produced by the sponsored content department of the Anchorage Daily News in collaboration with NCTA. The ADN newsroom was not involved in its production.