The Fiber Broadband Association’s (FBA) Regional Fiber Connect Workshop held in Anchorage last week brought together local broadband executives, tribal leaders, and policymakers. The attendees shared best practices and lessons learned in a state that faces unique challenges and opportunities in connecting its communities to fiber broadband.
Alaska is grappling with a significantly higher percentage of unserved communities and families, with over 60,000 people lacking broadband access and nearly 200,000 needing opportunities created. This situation stands in stark contrast to the national average, where about 9% of communities and families are unserved.
Despite the state receiving over a billion dollars for broadband, the vastness of Alaska, along with its challenging topography—characterized by water, ice, snow, and mountains—makes effective deployment a complex task. The short construction field season further complicates efforts to connect every Alaskan, especially across over 60 different cultures present within the state.
Broadband access is increasingly being recognized as essential, enabling educational opportunities in remote areas, supporting telehealth connections to doctors, and enhancing emergency preparedness. For instance, the recent tsunami warnings highlighted the importance of having reliable connectivity.
During a keynote address, Thomas Lochner, Alaska’s state broadband director, emphasized the importance of flexibility in broadband deployment strategies. “We are technology agnostic; we want to ensure the right solution that is scalable,” he stated. He indicated that the state expects 30% of federal funding awards to fall into the satellite category while 60-70% would be terrestrial. With an allocation of $1,017,139,672.42 through the BEAD program, Lochner’s office aims to utilize all available resources to bridge the digital divide between Alaskans.
Various funding sources are being leveraged to enhance broadband access in Alaska, including grants from the USDA’s ReConnect Program and Community Connect Program, as well as NTIA’s Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. The integration of these federal funding streams, along with significant investments from dedicated fiber providers like MTA, CGI, and Alaska Communications, is essential for successful deployment.
“Broadband is seen as a tool to improve community welfare for generations,” Lochner added, emphasizing the long-term vision encompassed in these projects.
Deployments are already underway even before the complete roll-out of BEAD funding. MTA’s Vice President of OSP Engineering and Construction, Robbie Nash, revealed insights into the planning processes for these deployments, highlighting that projects are often scheduled three to five years out. Early engagement allows paradigm shifts in priorities in response to potential issues.
“Delays in permitting and right-of-way issues can hinder progress, especially when construction is limited to the brief window between May 15 and October,” Nash explained, stressing the impact of construction seasonality on delivery timelines.
Workforce development emerged as a critical issue in addressing the region’s broadband challenge. Melissa Caress, the Statewide Training Director for the Alaska Joint Electrical Apprenticeship & Training Trust, discussed the challenges of the 8,000-hour apprenticeship program. This initiative is designed to recruit local talent, develop necessary skills, and forge partnerships with organizations like IBEW and MTA alongside internship and youth engagement programs.
The absence of adequate middle-mile infrastructure between remote communities and Anchorage poses a significant challenge, leading to increased latency—even more so than speed—especially for communities in Western Alaska. This situation is aggravated by the reality that reaching certain distances puts Russia closer to these regions than Seattle, demonstrating the complexities involved in broadband deployment.
While fiber is regarded as an optimal long-term solution, the panel discussions acknowledged the role of Fixed Wireless as a viable interim solution over the next five to ten years. The planning process must account for the future needs of broadband, projecting two decades ahead to ensure sufficient infrastructure is in place.
Particularly, tribal and Indigenous communities are central to Alaska’s broadband discussion. These communities present unique challenges and requirements in terms of connectivity. Kelly Williams, CEO of OTZ Telephone Cooperative, underscored the necessity of considering ecological impacts, such as avoiding disturbances to caribou migrations during operations.
“Connectivity is crucial for these communities; it literally saves lives, especially in villages where traditional lifelines are limited,” Williams stated, emphasizing the importance of reliable broadband access.
Cheri McConnell, Senior Vice President of Infrastructure at Kawerak, Inc., recounted her experiences deploying broadband in communities that have minimal road access. She emphasized the steep learning curve required and reinforced her commitment to bringing necessary broadband infrastructure to the Bering Strait region’s tribes.
A panel discussion revealed that communication challenges often arise between tribal governments and external vendors, which can lead to inefficiencies in project implementation. The limited personnel in tribal offices can make handling communications burdensome, leading to delays in vital broadband projects. Effective communication strategies that go beyond emails and phone calls were highlighted as essential for fostering collaborative partnerships.
Respecting data sovereignty was identified as critical for building trust between tribal governments and project developers, and ensuring respectful and effective engagement practices is paramount for successful implementation.
The critical role of broadband in preserving and promoting indigenous culture was emphasized during the discussions. Access to broadband enables tribal members to remain in their communities, access language classes, participate in tribal meetings via Zoom, and support the sharing of indigenous knowledge and cultural practices.
The technology allows individuals to support their families, pursue educational opportunities, and remain connected to their roots, offering an exceptional option for remote Alaskan communities. For instance, individuals like Michael Running Wolf are using technology, including AI, for language preservation efforts—highlighting how connectivity can enhance cultural sustainability.
During her afternoon keynote, Sharayah Lane from the Lummi Nation addressed the importance of funding, reiterating that financial support typically occurs biannually, which can create sustainability challenges for smaller Indigenous communities.
Lane also highlighted significant training program needs to ensure community network sustainability, calling attention to the Internet Society’s Open Fibre Data Standard Initiative. This global effort seeks to standardize fiber data and improve issues surrounding fiber mapping, data accuracy, and information dissemination within communities.
The final discussion of the workshop delved into the specific challenges faced in deploying broadband infrastructure in Alaska. Unique deployment strategies, such as laying fiber conduits directly atop the frozen tundra and allowing them to settle as the ground thaws, were discussed alongside permitting hurdles and labor shortages that continue to challenge the industry.
Copper Valley Telecom CEO Joshua Berg described how his company faces housing challenges for workers shipped to remote areas for deployment. He detailed their apprenticeship program, noting its effectiveness in nurturing new talent, including retirees wishing to enter the broadband field.
“The program goes beyond merely teaching splicing fiber; it encompasses network building, including splice casing, troubleshooting, and understanding the rationale behind equipment selection,” Berg noted, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the training.
The regional workshop proved to be a vital platform for stakeholders to address Alaska’s broadband challenges while fostering connections that could lead to innovative solutions and long-term strategies for overcoming barriers to connectivity.
image source from：broadbandbreakfast
