USDA broadband funding

[Nathan Borson]

For those still following Alaska broadband developments, there’s this from Representative Don Young’s October 13 press release:

“AP&T Wireless was awarded $21.5 million to deploy a network connecting 225 individuals, 32 businesses, an educational facility, a post office, and a fire station in Alaska’s Prince of Wales Island region.

 

That project makes the 2012 Gustavus Broadband Plan look cheap at $2.4M for 400+ people (though it did not address the crucial and expensive middle-mile problem). If nothing else, this announcement demonstrates the magnitude of the shortfall in Alaska. I wonder what POW customers will have to pay for service enabled by the new infrastructure, and what speeds and data caps they will get.

 

Nate