Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – This week, Representative Mary Sattler Peltola was notified that an additional $135.9 million in federal broadband grants is heading to Alaska. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) announced the four grants today which include broadband programs in Western, Southcentral, and Southeastern Alaska. 

“The coronavirus pandemic has exposed exactly how vital broadband connectivity is in our modern world,” said Peltola. “A bridge to less onerous medical visits and greater educational and job opportunities, affordable, consistent broadband access has become more and more essential to community growth and well-being. With the funding announced today by NTIA through the TBCP, households across Alaska will soon be able to utilize this critical resource.

Peltola said she looks forward to seeing more and more communities connected as the funding is disbursed. 

“I remain eager to work with my congressional colleagues, our rural communities, and telecom providers to ensure every Alaskan receives the broadband access they deserve, regardless of where they live,” she said. 

The NTIA released details of the four grants earlier today. They include: 

1.     NANA Regional Corporation: $68.5 million. The project proposes to install fiber directly connecting 1,379 unserved Native American households, 451 businesses, and 212 anchor institutions, such as libraries and schools, with 1 Gbps symmetrical service.

2.     Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska: $49.9 million. The project proposes to install fixed wireless and deploy Low-Earth Orbiting Satellite-enabled service to directly connect 14,032 unserved Native American households with qualifying broadband service of no less than 25/3Mbps for all with options up to100Mbps symmetrical speeds, where available.

3.      Kenaitze Indian Tribe (IRA): $7 million. The project proposes to install fiber directly connecting 1,055 unserved Native American households of which 45% are below the 150% poverty line with qualifying broadband service at speeds up to 336/36 Mbps. 

4.     Metlakatla Power and Light: $10.5 million. The project proposes to install fiber directly connecting 586 unserved Native American households, as well as businesses and government entities, with fiber to the home service of 1Gbps symmetrical.

###