USDA Awards Alaska Utility $22 Million for Fiber Installation
(UC) — Alaska Power & Telephone Company (AP&T) has been awarded a $21.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to install fiber optic cable in rural Alaska.
The money is part of the USDA Rural Utility Service’s ReConnect program.
AP&T will provide over $7m in matching funds for its SEALink Project.
The funds will be used to construct local networks which will provide high-speed broadband to all premises in Kasaan and Coffman Cove, and to develop and install an estimated 214-mile fiber optic cable between Prince of Wales Island, Petersburg, and Juneau.
While grant-funded activities will focus on providing high speed broadband service in Kasaan and Coffman Cove, SEALink will support increased fiber optic-based broadband build-out and higher speeds across Prince of Wales Island.
Development will occur over the next five years, with completion planned for 2025.
AP&T has additional places to extend high-speed broadband to other communities on Prince of Wales Island.
“AP&T is excited to see the ways in which tribal members, ANCSA shareholders, and community members will be able to leverage high-speed broadband to achieve a diverse variety of socioeconomic objectives,” said Jason Custer, Vice President of Business Development for AP&T.
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