Alaska Communications

We'd like to brag on one of our employees. Mark Carlson, our senior director of business affairs has a daughter named Maya. She's a teen who has a heart to serve and help others in her community. After an injury that put her out of participating in sports, she didn’t give up and instead turned it into an opportunity to support her peers. From attending early morning practices as a team manager to hosting team events, Maya has spent many hours supporting her teams and helping others be their best. It’s not just about sports for Maya. She volunteers and helps in other ways throughout her Anchorage community too. We’re proud to recognize her through Summer of Heroes and support her education with a scholarship. Recognition of youth through the Summer of Heroes Employee Program is one of the benefits we provide to our employees. Read Maya's story and see what she’s up to next: https://lnkd.in/gdCrDvHf

Meet Sara – She’s showing us that youth shouldn’t feel pressure to choose a career in either the arts or the sciences because they can do both! She’s fusing modern science and technology with classic art and design through wearable art. With more than 850 hours of work in her designs that are then sold at auction, she’s helped raise more than $400,000 for Alaska non-profits. Sara strongly believes that no child should ever be excluded from the world of the arts due to financial reasons and started an annual fundraiser to help provide scholarships for young dancers in her Soldotna community. Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney and Soldotna City Council members joined our recognition of Sara's work at their council meeting earlier this week. We're appreciative they too are eager to recognize amazing youth in our Alaska communities. Learn more about Sara’s arts and sciences work, and her support of Alaska’s ballet community: https://lnkd.in/gdCrDvHf.

We had the pleasure of hosting Jonathan Spalter from USTelecom | The Broadband Association in Alaska this week. Together, we traveled from Anchorage to Soldotna sharing the exciting work we’re doing to connect Alaskans and change lives through technology. We’re proud members of USTelecom and have a shared interest in creating new opportunities to compete, grow and thrive through the power and promise of connectivity. 📸 : Jeff Vogt, Jonathan Spalter and Matt McConnell. 

In cool telecom news, the first subsea to directly connect Malaysia and the U.S. will land at our cable landing station in Florence, Oregon. 🌊 🌏 The cable (MYUS), which is slated to be ready in mid-2028, will help increase access to reliable and affordable digital services across Southeast Asia. Strategically positioned along the Oregon coast, our Florence landing station is a critical hub for subsea fiberoptic cables which are the backbone of today’s internet. This location provides unparalleled access to multiple fiber backhaul providers, ensuring seamless connectivity to major data center complexes in Seattle, Hillsboro, Silicon Valley and beyond. We look forward to a long-term relationship hosting MYUS at our premier landing station! Read more: https://lnkd.in/gupTqnGQ #submarinefiber #submarinecable #cablelandingstation #hexa #myus #alaskacommunications #atni

We’re excited to welcome Dale Knipp to the team as senior vice president, business! 👏 Dale is an experienced and innovative leader with many years of telecom and technology experience. He has worked in various capacities with large telecoms including Comcast, Verizon, Cox, Dish and Charter. Dale will lead growth in our business segment and help deliver on our vision of becoming the employer and provider of choice in Alaska. Help us give him a warm welcome. 

Connectivity is crucial in rural Alaska where reliable, affordable internet has the power to enhance quality of life and economic opportunities. That’s why the Alaska FiberOptic Project is so consequential. Read more about this exciting collaboration between Calista Corporation, Doyon, Limited, Gana-A’Yoo, Tanana Chiefs Conference and Alaska Communications in the September issue of Alaska Business Magazine. 📖 https://lnkd.in/gyPSF53Y 📸 : Photo by Russ Slaten. #alaskafiberopticproject #ruralalaska #digitaldivide #alaska

We’ve earned the Healthcare specialization credential from Mitel. We are one of only nine partners in North America with this accomplishment thanks to our leadership serving healthcare organizations in Alaska with comprehensive voice solutions. 💪 #mitel #voicesolutions #businessvoice #healthcare #heathcarevoice #telecom

Ron has worked for us in fleet services for almost 20 years keeping the wheels turning and engines running. He's famous at Alaska Communications for making the best banana pudding any of us has ever had. When he’s not working hard in our garage or baking delicious treats to share, he’s been a longtime community advocate, organizing holiday fundraisers for kids in need and supporting charitable causes. He’s planning to retire in early September so it’s the perfect opportunity to thank him for his hard work and kindness over the years! ❤️

Meet Hayley, a field technician in Fairbanks. She recently completed her apprenticeship and is putting her training to use as a fulltime journeyman. She’s been a huge asset to our company, both as a working apprentice and now as a splicing journeyman. In fact, just last Friday she caught a ride with the railroad to access a remote location where fiber was damaged. She and her colleague Warren had the fiber spliced and repaired in no time. Telecom workers like Hayley and Warren are in demand in Alaska to help close the digital divide. No telecom experience is needed to qualify for training at the Alaska Joint Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Trust and students in the program get PAID during their training. Learn more: bit.ly/3MoHA9J

Our commitment to providing mission and life critical communications in Alaska is getting a boost. We’ve secured $390 million which will be used to repay existing debt and to further invest in expanding our fiber infrastructure across the state, true to our mission of changing lives through technology. “We are dedicated to contributing to a stronger state economy for Alaskans now and for years to come by enhancing connectivity with increased fiber capacity,” said Matt McConnell, CEO. “The potential to expand fiber-based connectivity is immense, and this new facility enhances our ability to meet the growing demands of our market.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/gcGQEBHR #investinginAlaska #broadband #connectivity #fiber #fiberoptics #alaska #alaskacommunications #ATNI