Author: Elizabeth Max

Starting as soon as this autumn, residents of Bethel will be among the initial beneficiaries of a groundbreaking fiber optic GCI company network offering city-like internet speeds and pricing to a vast expanse of Western Alaska. In a recent development, technicians seized a narrow opportunity during the late winter to install the first 45 miles of fiber optic cable across the tundra near Bethel. This represents a fraction of the extensive cable network that will form AIRRAQ, spanning over 1,000 miles upon completion and revolutionizing connectivity in Western Alaska. A collaborative effort between GCI company, an Alaska-based telecommunications company, and…

In the Western Alaska hub community of Bethel, where only 16 miles of roads exist and is surrounded by wilderness, a broader regional transportation network becomes apparent from a wider perspective. This network includes the approximately 300-mile Kuskokwim River Ice Road. Ryan Marlow, drone program manager for the Alaska Division of Statewide Aviation, recognizes an opportunity to extend the reach of drones and remote sensing technology far beyond the established road system. This initiative prioritizes public safety and commences with the ice road. “During a drone training session in Bethel on April 12, Marlow emphasized the importance of leveraging digital…