News about the Alaska FiberOptic Project
Pictured: The community of Rampart and the Yukon River
Spring 2024 Update
The Alaska FiberOptic Project is a collaboration between Calista Corporation, Doyon Limited, Gana-A 'Yoo Limited, Tanana Chiefs Conference and Alaska Communications to provide reliable, affordable broadband in rural Alaska. So far, funding has been secured to connect 15 villages.
Continue reading for a recap of 2023 and our 2024 plans.
Doyon Region
Doyon, in partnership with Alaska Communications, will connect five communities along the Yukon River: Beaver, Fort Yukon, Rampart, Stevens Village and Tanana. Household service will be ready by the end of 2025.
In 2023, community meetings were held in each village, community surveys of utility infrastructure began and engineering for the land portion of the project began.
The partners have big plans for 2024, including:
- Completion of initial field studies
- Construction and installation of equipment kiosks
- Environmental resource evaluations including:
- Cultural resource studies
- Cable shore landings
- Evaluation of river dynamics
- Evaluation of the fiber-to-home infrastructure
- Deploy fiber optic cable from existing utility poles to buildings (household connections will not go live until 2025)
- Terrestrial construction along the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks to the Yukon River Bridge
- Additional community engagement
Employment Opportunities
While the work is being completed in each village, there will be various shareholder employment opportunities.
2024 Opportunities
- Laundry support
- Brush clearing and tree trimmers
- Cooks and food preparation
2025 Opportunities
- Trucks and drivers to transport supplies from airport to river
- Water taxis to transport installation crews between vessels
- Small watercrafts and captains to transport fuel to install vessels
Calista Region
Calista, in partnership with Alaska Communications, will connect seven communities along the Kuskokwim River: Upper Kalskag, Lower Kalskag, Tuluksak, Akiak, Akiachak, Kwethluk and Napakiak. Household service will be ready by the end of 2026.
In 2023, meetings were held in each village and the early stages of the environmental analysis was completed.
In 2024, the team’s plans include:
- Contractor selection – should be finalized by Memorial Day
- Continued work on environmental analysis
- Site surveys
- Engineering design and procurement
Other Service Areas
In addition to connecting communities in the Doyon and Calista regions, Alaska Communications and Tanana Chiefs Conference will bring fiber broadband to Venetie, Chalkyitsik and Circle.
Residents in all of these areas can sign up to be notified when service is coming to their area. Click the “sign up” button in yellow banner at the bottom of this page.
Project Vision and Next Steps
Our vision spans beyond these 15 communities, as we seek additional funding sources to expand the project to more communities and achieve our shared vision.