Rural Alaska Broadband Internet Access Grant Program

Rural Alaska Broadband Internet Access Grant Program is a grant from the Regulatory Commission of Alaska that funds telecommunications carriers and cable operators expanding affordable broadband Internet access to rural Alaska communities that currently lack service.

The program covers up to 75% of the funding required to extend Internet service to unserved communities and to keep rates comparable to those in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. Eligible applicants are telecommunications carriers or cable operators capable of providing broadband service in rural Alaska; applicants need not be Alaskan-based.

The program focuses on long-term affordable broadband connectivity in underserved rural Alaskan communities.

Programs: Broadband Internet Grant RCA Statutes & Regulations Meeting with the Commissioners Regulatory Commission of Alaska Public Notices & Comments Daily Filings - Mailsheets Current Regulation Projects Filing with the Commission Procedures for Requesting Login RCA Statutes & Regulations Commission Budget & Finances RCA Statutes & Regulations Public Notices & Comments Model Tariffs & Ordinances The goal of the Rural Alaska Broadband Internet Access Grant Program is to facilitate long-term affordable broadband Internet services in rural Alaska communities where these services do not currently exist.

To accomplish this goal, the program provides up to 75% of the funding companies require to expand Internet service to communities without it and to keep rates comparable to those in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau for at The Internet Connectivity Spreadsheet (updated 1/12/2007) provides connectivity levels and Internet service rates throughout Information was gathered from Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development’s (DCCED) community profile website, Internet Service Provider (ISP) websites, and information provided by ISPs and throughout the State of Alaska.

Further, the Internet Connectivity Spreadsheet is based on the technical specification for broadband Internet service of at least 200Kbps downstream (from the network to the end user) and 64Kbps upstream (from the end user to the network). The broadband standard has been changed to 768Kbps downstream and 200Kbps upstream. updated or corrected information on Internet service should email their comments to Rich Gazaway ( richard.

gazaway@alaska. gov ) and Jess Manaois ( john. paul.

manaois@alaska. gov ). Note: Community designations are based on Alaskan communities identified by DCCED.

Rate information is based on rates for month-to-month stand-alone Internet service, and does not include any Internet rate discounts available for (1) committing to a proscribed of service or (2) purchasing Internet service in conjunction with another service offering. Rates for broadband service are based on grant program guidelines for broadband service; an asymmetrical transmission speed standard of 256Kpbs/64Kbps.

Farm Bill revision to expand community ROUND 5 PROGRAM INFORMATION Round 5 Application Guide with GCI Communications, Corp. and Unicom, Inc. Yukon Telephone Company and BBN, Inc. Communities: Ruby and Tanana 09/27/2011: RCA Awards Federal Grants for Internet Access in Rural Alaska 12/10/2010: RCA Extends Filing Deadline for Round 5 Grant Applications Releases Round 5 Grant Application Guide ROUND 4 PROGRAM INFORMATION Round 4 Application Guide with 10/29/2008: RCA Extends Filing Deadline for Round 4 Grant Applications Releases Round 4 Grant Application Guide ROUND 3 PROGRAM INFORMATION 04/18/2008: Alascom, Inc., d/b/a AT&T Alascom has notified the Regulatory Commission of Alaska that it is providing broadband Internet access 04/10/2008: RCA Releases Round 3 Grant Application ROUND 2 PROGRAM INFORMATION Listed below are the potential grant recipients.

Contracts for Round 2 grantees have not been executed. Alascom, Inc., d/b/a AT&T Alascom Communities: Edna Bay, Naukati Bay, Port Alexander, Port Protection, Tenakee Springs Communities: Manley Hot Springs $75.

00 (Free during Maintenance 12/12/2006: DCCED Awards Grants 05/19/2006: RCA Extends Deadline for Applications 05/01/2006: RCA Releases Round 2 Grant Application 08/10/2006: RCA Seeks Comment ROUND 1 PROGRAM INFORMATION 08/28/03: The following submission deadlines have changed: Grant Application Guide Available Grant Applications (Proposals) Deadline Grant Applications Reviewed and Evaluated Grant Applicants Notified Ten Day Appeal Period Ends Drafting Grant Agreements Updated Community Information: Updated Community Eligibility Information 09/08/03: The list of eligible communities are based on data accumulated from the 2000 Denali Commission Telecommunications Study list and from the 2000 Census information, and may be eligible pending determination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Community Facilities Grant.

The community list may not be up-to-date. If a community is believed to be eligible and is not identified on the Eligible Community, the applicant must provide substantive evidence that the community is eligible. If a community listed below has either local dial-up OR broadband services, the community is not eligible under this program.

Pre-defined list of Approved Communities as of April 29, 2003 Communities: Allakaket, Crooked Creek, Dot Lake, Grayling, Holy Cross, Mentasta Lake, Red Devil, Shageluk, Sleetmute, Stony River, * Equipment charges are covered by the grant funds during the Start Up and Maintenance Phases Communities: Anaktuvuk Pass, Chefornak, Eek, Kipnuk, Kongiganak, Kwigillingok, Lower Kalskag, Newtok, Nightmute, Tuntutuliak, Tununak, $40.

00 (During Maintenance of Request for Additional Grant Funding by United Utilities (see additional information Awards Federal Grants to Internet Access to 10/07/2003: Federal Government Authorizes Million Grant for Rural Internet Access in Releases Grant Application Guide for Rural Alaska Broadband Internet Access Program Receives $7.

5 Million for Rural Internet United Utilities, Inc. Request for Additional Grant Funding Decision - UUI Request to Amend the Grant 09/28/2004: Request for Additional Amendment to Initial Grant Proposal - Letter and Request to Amend Training 11/03/2003: UUI Initial Grant Proposal (on file at the RCA; a redacted version is available for public Public Comments in Favor of Additional Funding States Senator Ted Stevens Williams/Myron Naneng, Sr., The Association of Village Council Presidents 12/20/2004: Matthew Nicolai, Calista D.

Stemp, Bethel Native Corporation Robertson, Lower Yukon School District 12/13/2004: Senator Lyman F.

Hoffman Leonard III, National Science Foundation Seibert, Bethel Broadcasting, Inc. (KYUK) Atchak, Bethel Search and Rescue Morgan, University of Alaska Fairbanks Moore, Alaska Telecommunications Users Peltola, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation date: Carlton Kuhns, Yuut ElitnaurViat , In addition, over 100 preprinted postcards were received from potential end users supporting UUI's request for *Comments filed before UUI's Notice was issued Public Comments Opposing Additional Funding Telecom Management Services, LLC Utilities, Inc. Response to Opposing 701 West Eighth Avenue, Suite 300 Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3469 Phone: (907) 276-6222 Fax: (907) 276-0160 TTY/Alaska Relay: 7-1-1 or 1-800-770-8973 Toll Free: (1-800) 390-2782 (outside Anchorage, within Alaska) Webmaster: webmaster.

rca@alaska. gov