FCC Order Secures Long-Term Funding for Alaska Communications Towards Expanding Broadband Deployment
November 01 2016 - 4:05PM
Business Wire
Alaska Communications (NASDAQ: ALSK) announced today that the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued its order
relating to the expansion of the Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF
II) program in Alaska.
Under the terms of the order, the FCC will provide approximately
$19.7 million per year for 10 years to assist Alaska Communications
in deploying broadband to an aggregate of about 31,500 locations in
Alaska. The number of unserved locations expected to be served
under this program are estimated to be between 25,000 and
26,000.
Alaska Communications will bring internet service with speeds of
at least 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload to rural locations in
Alaska approved by the FCC.
“Alaska Communications is pleased to reach this important
milestone with the FCC, setting the stage for the single largest
deployment of affordable broadband under any one program in
Alaska,” said Leonard Steinberg, Alaska Communications senior vice
president, legal, regulatory and government affairs. “We thank
Senator Murkowski, Senator Sullivan and Congressman Young for their
support bringing this important infrastructure to our state.”
The CAF II funding will support expanded broadband capability to
rural communities along Alaska’s highway system. The funding does
not address the significant middle mile needs for deploying
affordable broadband in Alaska Bush communities that are not
accessible by road.
The Alaska Communications CAF II order is the only CAF order for
Alaska that establishes broadband obligations for a specific number
of customer locations. The next step in the process is for Alaska
Communications to develop a build-out plan for the deployment of
these new broadband services over the next ten years.
The FCC created the CAF II program in 2011 to facilitate the
deployment of high-speed internet access in high-cost locations by
transitioning Universal Service Fund money that was supporting
rural landline voice service to the build-out of broadband
infrastructure in rural communities.
About Alaska Communications
Alaska Communications (NASDAQ: ALSK) is the leading provider of
advanced broadband and managed IT services for businesses and
consumers in Alaska. The company operates a highly reliable,
advanced statewide data network with the latest technology and the
most diverse undersea fiber optic system connecting Alaska to the
contiguous U.S. For more information, visit
www.AlaskaCommunications.com or www.alsk.com.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161101006693/en/
Alaska CommunicationsMedia Contact:Heather Cavanaugh,
907-564-7722Director, Corporate CommunicationsorInvestor
Contact:Tiffany Dunn, 907-564-7556Manager, Board and Investor
Relationsinvestors@acsalaska.com
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