News about the Alaska FiberOptic Project
Fall 2025 Update
The Alaska FiberOptic Project is a collaboration between Calista Corporation, Doyon Limited, Gana-A 'Yoo Limited, Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) and Alaska Communications (the partners) to provide reliable, affordable broadband to communities along the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers.
The partners made the most of Alaska’s long summer days advancing this first-of-its-kind project forward. Continue reading for a recap of recent activities and next steps.
Pictured: Heather Cavanaugh, Alaska Communications and Sarah Obed, Doyon, Limited spoke at a community meeting in Tanana during spring 2025.
Doyon Region
Doyon, in partnership with Alaska Communications, will connect five communities along the Yukon River: Beaver, Fort Yukon, Rampart, Stevens Village and Tanana. Household service is expected to be ready by the end of 2026.
Recent Accomplishments
- Completed in-person community meetings in all five communities
- Completed sonar readings of the bottom of the deepest channel
- Majority of fiber overhead completed by end of 2025
- Fiber from Fairbanks to the bridge is on track to be completed this year
Next Steps
- Project equipment will be stored in Fairbanks over the winter
- Community visits to be held in spring 2026
- Project construction to resume summer 2026
- Middle mile fiber between the bridge and each of the communities is scheduled to be completed in 2026
Calista Region
Calista, in partnership with Alaska Communications, will connect seven communities along the Kuskokwim River: Upper Kalskag, Lower Kalskag, Tuluksak, Akiak, Akiachak, Kwethluk and Napakiak. Construction is expected to begin in 2026 and household service is expected to be ready by the end of 2027.
Recent Accomplishments
- In-person community meetings were held during August in Tuluksak, Akiak and Akiachak. Unfortunately, due to August weather cancellations, meetings for Lower Kalskag, Upper Kalskag, Napakiak and Kwethluk were rescheduled as virtual meetings in fall 2025
- After additional research, engineering and planning, we learned that terrestrial cable is possible in the region. The fiber will be better protected and less exposed to breaks in the ground than in the river. At water crossings (rivers, ponds, etc.), the fiber will be tunneled underneath the waterbody
- Permitting is ongoing
- Final route alignment was established
Alaska Communications and Calista representatives spoke at a community meeting in Akiak this August.
Next Steps
- Final engineering and design will be completed during the fourth quarter of 2025
- Cultural Resources field work is occurring this fall
- Engineering review and discovery in the communities is scheduled to occur this fall/early winter
- Permitting continues
Why Fiber?
The Yukon and Kuskokwim River areas are among the most underserved areas of the United States. While direct-to-consumer satellite services have arrived in our communities, fiber remains the gold standard of connectivity because it is significantly more reliable and faster than satellite. Alaska Communications’ fiber service in the communities served by this project will have $0 equipment costs. Alaska Communications’ customers can apply for the Lifeline program which provides a $34.50 discount per household on Tribal land. Satellite customers cannot get the Lifeline discount.
Alaska FiberOptic Project Updates
“For the first time, some of Alaska’s most underserved communities will receive high-speed internet access made possible by the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Grant program. I commend the partnership and coordination of the successful applicants in securing this grant, which will be transformational.” - Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)