In a significant development for rural Alaska, Old Harbor Native Corporation and Alaska Communications are partnering to bring digital connectivity to tribal communities on Kodiak Island through an initiative called Project Nunapet. This groundbreaking initiative will establish a 155-mile subsea fiber optic cable system connecting Alaska Communications’ fiber landing station in Homer to Kodiak Island, where approximately 13,000 people reside, with stops in Ouzinkie, Narrow Cape, Old Harbor, and Akhiok. It will bring gigabit-speed Internet service to communities in the Kodiak Archipelago region that have long struggled with reliable connectivity.
The $64.7 million project derives its name from an Alutiiq word meaning “our lands.” According to the press release, it therefore “serves as a reminder of the connection Alutiiq people have to the land and sea. Old Harbor Native Corporation chose this name because it represents how the fiber optic cable will connect people to each other via the land and sea, a sacred connection they have shared for time immemorial.” It was essential that the project involve a Tribal organization, and the Old Harbor Native Corporation is a Native village corporation created under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, with a mission focused on economic empowerment and cultural preservation.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) funded Project Nunapet through the second round of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s (BIL) $3 billion Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, which assists Tribal governments in deploying broadband and supporting efforts such as digital inclusion, distance learning, and telehealth. It is part of a larger effort embedded in the BIL’s $65 billion investment in accelerating access to high-speed Internet across the country.
NTIA announced that $980 million was available for the program’s second funding round in July 2023. The award to Old Harbor Native Corporation was part of a $162 million tranche of funding that NTIA recommended in January 2025.
Photo Courtesy Old Harbor Native Corporation
Using fiber-to-the-home technology, the project will connect the Old Harbor, Chiniak, Akhiok, and Womens Bay communities with access to high-speed Internet through a last-mile fiber network. Heather Marron, manager of corporate communications for Alaska Communications, discussed the importance of these locations: “These locations are currently served with an aging microwave system. Chiniak and Women’s Bay are served by copper lines which is an older technology.” She elaborated, “Fiber backhaul will enable improved speeds in these communities. This is the second fiber route into the island of Kodiak and it will provide much needed redundancy for the island.” GCI Communication Corp. owns the other fiber cable.
The project will serve approximately 570 homes, laying the groundwork for economic growth in communities that have faced demographic and financial challenges. Paul Fenaroli, president and CEO of Alaska Communications, noted, “Despite Alaska’s stunning landscapes, a significant digital divide has left many residents without internet access, and this inequity has disproportionately affected Alaska Native people. Affordable high-speed internet has been a long-desired goal for the rural communities of Kodiak Island.”
Modern broadband will help meet local needs and encourage more people to stay on the remote island. Kristina Woolston, CEO of Old Harbor Native Corporation, added, “The project is critical to the retention of youth, supports the needs of our Elders, and will provide social, cultural and economic development opportunities for our people.” The education and healthcare sectors, in particular, will benefit. She expanded, , “There are things that we probably haven’t even imagined yet that may one day be possible with true broadband coming to our community.”
Notably, Alaska Communications committed to offering this service at the same rates as it offers in urban spaces. The company also provides subsidies for low-income consumers through the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline program.
Photo Courtesy Alaska Communications
The project received crucial support from Alaska’s Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, who have championed investments in Alaska Native communities, demonstrating that rural connectivity is an issue with bipartisan appeal.
Sen. Murkowski reflected, “Alaskans continue to see new benefits borne by the bipartisan infrastructure law, and this latest announcement is great news for some of our underserved communities. It can’t be said enough – if you don’t have access to reliable high-speed internet, you’re falling behind in today’s world. Every Alaskan should have that access and today’s announcement takes us one step closer to that goal.”
As Alaska looks toward a connected future, Project Nunapet stands as a testament to how infrastructure investments can create economic opportunities while preserving cultural heritage in rural America.
This article was created on April 25, 2025 with the assistance of the generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool Claude 3.7 Sonnet, using the linked company websites, press releases, reports, or external media coverage as inputted source material. It was then reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by one or more team members to ensure factual accuracy and consistency with editorial standards before publication.
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