Broadband Internet has been called an essential tool for our society today and in the future. A recent report, however, shows that Alaska is one of the worst states when it comes to availability and capability -- something the Alaska Broadband Task Force is working to change.
The task force, made up of Alaskans representing different parts of the state in both the private and public sectors, has come up with a blueprint to make sure every single person has access to affordable broadband services.
By 2020, members want every Alaskan to be able to have Internet access capable of 100 megabits per second -- a feat they say will change how residents do business, are educated, and even receive health care.
The biggest obstacle to achieving that goal is infrastructure. Alaska's challenging geography means high-speed fiber-optic networks are still a work in progress, and communities in the state have wildly varying degrees of Internet access.
Bill Popp, who chairs the task force, says leaving the gap open is unacceptable if Alaskans want the state to be on par with the rest of the world.
"It is the next generation of the global economy, it is going to be a major driver in that, and for Alaska to be competitive in the world economy, we need to have a good broadband infrastructure in place," Popp said.
Popp says the extensive economic benefits of Internet access include both commercial opportunities and new savings.
"It can be in the millions, if not tens of millions of dollars over time," Popp said. "And you see it in both competitiveness -- the ability to generate new businesses using broadband connectivity -- but also in the delivery of services more cost-effectively; it drives down the cost of living in a community."
The task force is backing more fiber-optic network development in both the private and public sectors, as well as developing better networks in hospitals, schools, and local governments.
The task force's blueprint of recommendations are now in the hands of state officials, who will look at them and determine what to do next.
Contact Corey Allen-Young