Nuiqsut, a rural Alaska “oil” village with a population of 520, is about to get high-speed internet via fiber optic cable at a cost of $200,000 per household. Must Read Alaska reported that American taxpayers will be “footing the bill” for the project through grant funds.
Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) commented on the pending connectivity: “These projects put money into the pockets of Alaskan workers and make rural life more feasible. Excited to see more grants like it!”
Must Read Alaska reported that the fiber optic project will link to the Quintillion undersea cable that stretches around Alaska. The project also involves network infrastructure upgrades and linking broadband services to homes and businesses.
Currently, Starlink satellite is also available in the village. There’s been no reported survey of households committed to hook up to the Quintillion fiber service, which went down over the summer for a few months.
According to Must Read Alaska, Starlink plans have an upfront cost of $599 for the satellite dish, with a $90 monthly fee. The fiber hookups, paid for by taxpayer dollars, are priced higher for lower speeds than Starlink and at quadruple the cost.
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