Closing the digital divide has been GCI’s mission since the company began serving Alaskans more than 40 years ago. GCI’s record of successful public-private partnerships and effective stewardship of federal programs, like the Alaska Plan, means the company is closer than ever to achieving that goal.
Since 2016, GCI has improved internet and wireless service for more than 115,300 Alaskans in 121 communities across the state through its Alaska Plan investment, even delivering connectivity to some for the very first time.
“We’re proud of the impact GCI has been able to make these last several years, especially in Alaska’s rural areas, with support from the Alaska Plan,” said Senior Director of GCI Regulatory Affairs Juliana Wayman. “In 2021 alone, we improved wireless and internet connectivity for nearly 36,500 Alaskans in 58 rural Alaska communities through GCI’s Alaska Plan Investment. In five of those communities, we delivered internet service for the very first time. This is truly transformational change.”
The Alaska Plan, adopted by the FCC in August 2016, provides federal funds to Alaska’s telecommunications providers, augmenting investment in rural wireless and internet service upgrades.
To help guide its efforts to close the digital divide and bring digital equity to areas of Alaska where connectivity lags behind, GCI has created a Rural Connectivity Initiative (RCI) that includes senior leadership from throughout the company. The RCI sets GCI’s long-term strategy to meet the future connectivity needs of rural Alaska and ensures the company’s investment and deployment of federal funds has the biggest possible impact.
“GCI has helped make Alaska one of the most-connected states in the nation, but our work isn’t done,” said Senior Vice President of GCI Corporate Development Billy Wailand. “Comprehensive planning by the RCI helps GCI plan and coordinate internal and external resources to complete ambitious infrastructure projects on time and on budget; it allows GCI to set clear expectations with our rural partners around service, delivery, and timing; and it gives GCI and local communities an opportunity to promote training and development of skills in the regions where future buildouts will take place.”
For more information about GCI’s Alaska Plan investment, visit: https://www.gci.com/about/alaska-plan.