With federal funds coming for broadband, governor forms task force to decide spending

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has signed an Administrative Order 322 to establish a special task force on broadband to address the need for reliable, high speed internet connectivity for all Alaskans.

There have been state broadband task forces before, and detailed plans were developed. There were task forces in 2014 and 2019.

A plan developed in 2014 with a large group of stakeholders was given high marks, people familiar with the plan said. It was put on the shelf, and not much happened.

What’s different now is that a lot of federal money will be available, and the COVID-19 pandemic has starkly illustrated gaps in the system when children switched to at-home learning. Insufficiencies in the system resulted in many lacking access to on-line learning.

“On the heels of a global pandemic, now more than ever do we see the critical role that the internet plays in nearly every part of life and the importance of good connectivity for every Alaskan,” the governor said.

“We have a large amount of federal pandemic relief funding coming to Alaska, with potentially more on the way if an infrastructure bill passes Congress, and there is a lot of discussion surrounding broadband.

The Task Force on Broadband will convene stakeholders involved in delivering and using broadband, particularly in rural Alaska, to identify communities that need to be connected and upgraded, and to provide recommendations on how best establish high speed, affordable internet.”

The task force will assess remaining gaps in the system and technologies used to deliver broadband and provide recommendations to the governor on state involvement in broadband infrastructure development as well as use of state funds to assist in the buildout of broadband networks. Recommendations are to be submitted to the Governor by October 1.

The Task Force will consist of 11 voting members and two ex officio members, including:

• Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Michael Johnson

• Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Commissioner Julie Anderson

• One representative of the Alaska Municipal League or a similar organization that represents municipalities in the state;

• One representative of an organization that is representative of Alaska natives in the state;

• One representative of an organization that represents regional rural interests in the state;

• One representative of the telecommunications industry;

• One representative of a statewide organization representing business communities throughout Alaska.

• Two Mayors (one from a city, borough, or municipality located on the road system and one from a city, borough, or municipality located off the road system)

• One representative of the General Public

• One representative of a rural Alaska school district

There are two ex-officio members, one each from the Alaska House of Representatives and from the Alaska Senate, chosen by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House.