Native Village of Port Lions awarded $29.3M federal grant to bring urban-level internet speeds to six more remote communities
Summary
The project will deliver GCIs lightning-fast 2 gig speeds, unlimited data, and affordable plans to some of the most remote and underserved communities in the nationANCHORAGE, Alaska, Sept. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Native Village of Port Lions, in partnership with GCI, is the recipient of a $29.3 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The GCI AU-Aleutians Fiber Project was partially funded through a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) program. "This partnership with the Native Village of Port Lions means GCI can expand its AU-Aleutians Fiber Network, which is currently in construction, to provide high-speed broadband data connectivity to six additional communities in the region. "The project will effectively close the digital divide between these Aleutian communities and urban Alaska," said Senior Vice President of GCI Corporate Development Billy Wailand. ""Were pleased the NTIA recognized the importance of bringing digital equity to the region," said Kodiak Area Native Association Project Coordinator Tyler Kornelis.