Biden-Harris Administration Awards More Than $5.5 Million to Alaska in ‘Internet for All’ Planning Grants

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that Alaska received its first “Internet for All” grants for deploying high-speed Internet networks and developing digital skills training programs under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative. Alaska is receiving $5,567,800.00 in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed by President Biden, to plan for the deployment and adoption of affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed Internet service throughout the state. For the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, Alaska will receive $5 million to fund various activities including:

• Identification of unserved and underserved locations;
• Planning and capacity-building of the Alaska Office of Broadband;
• Creation of a comprehensive "Connect North!" Five-Year Action Plan;
• Development of Climate Threat Assessment;
• Improving quality of service and lowering the cost of high-speed Internet service, while allowing Native Alaskans to maintain a traditional cultural lifestyle and the ability to fully participate in the global economy;
• Research to understand barriers to high-speed Internet service adoption.

For Digital Equity Act planning efforts, Alaska will receive $567,800.00 to fund various activities including:

• Development of a statewide digital equity plan;
• Providing resources to the Digital Equity working group;
• Community engagement with regional stakeholders;
• Conducting listening sessions via the Alaska Federation of Natives, other native entities, and the Alaska Municipal League.