TERRA Southwest: finding ways to go where no telecom has gone before.

• Author: Johnston, Ross
• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: Telecom & Technology

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For many living in rural and remote regions of the state, the dream of broadband Internet is finally coming true. Thanks to a combination of stimulus grants, technological innovation and a commitment by GCI, the state's largest telecommunications company, many parts of rural Alaska are being brought up to speed. GCI has recently completed TERRA Southwest, an $88 million broadband project consisting of 400 miles of new fiber optic cable and 13 new microwave towers connecting 65 communities. The project will service more than 9,000 households and 750 organizations, providing an array of connectivity benefits including increased cell phone service, video conferencing capabilities and beyond.

According to GCI Vice President of Corporate Services David Morris, the TERRA project is a symbol of GCI's long-standing commitment to the state. GCI has positioned itself as the communications provider for the entire state of Alaska. It is invested in building resources that allow it to serve all of Alaska, and all of Alaska's telecommunications needs.

Funding Critical

A critical element of realizing the TERRA network was securing the necessary funding. Initially, laying down the comprehensive fiber optic network was financially prohibitive due to the extreme high cost of this infrastructure. Traditionally, fiber optic technology is reserved for serving denser, high-volume populations, such as Anchorage, while satellite is reserved for more rural, fragmented communities, because satellite can cover a huge amount of area, while fiber requires a huge investment to physically make all the necessary connections. Thanks to a $44 million grant through the Stimulus Act and a $44 million loan to GCI, the TERRA Southwest project was funded and built in 2011. TERRA Southwest has finally made terrestrial connectivity from Anchorage through Southwest Alaska feasible, bringing this crucial broadband link to rural communities a year before its anticipated completion date.

In addition to the existing grants it has already received, the 1996 Telecommunication Act offers an additional incentive for GCI to develop the network farther into outlying communities. The Telecommunications Act provides subsidies for local communities, which can result in substantial savings. For instance, the distance education subsidy is based on the school lunch program. Whatever percentage of compensation a school gets for its school lunch program is the same percentage...