Submitted via IRC for AndyTheAbsurd
Late last year, Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr got an "earful" from remote Alaskan residents who were concerned with how poor their access to the internet is — and they weren't wrong. Alaska has, on average, some of the slowest internet connections in the country, primarily due to its distance from the rest of the continental United States.
But remote Alaskans may see faster speeds soon. MTA Fiber Holdings announced today that it would build the "first and only all-terrestrial" fiber optic network running from Alaska and into the Lower 48. The line will begin in North Pole, Alaska and will travel through Canada, connecting with Canadian carriers, where it will finally connect with "any major hub" in the US. A vast majority of Alaska's current connections to the global internet either run through a handful of submarine cables, satellites, or wireless connections.
"This is a major step for Alaska that will ensure future capacity requirements for MTA members and can support the continuing growth of broadband across the state of Alaska," MTA CEO Michael Burke said in a statement.
According to the press release, only internet traffic that both originates and terminates in the US will be carried over the network.
(Score: 1) by Sulla on Friday May 03 2019, @10:19PM
Depends where you live. In any of the established cities/towns it is a major issue. Native folks get the firewater, get drunk, the village cuts them out of their share of the native corp shares/dividends and kicks them out of the village. They wander Anchorage (or whatever) as a hopeless alcoholic with no friends, family, or job. Most seemingly unable to speak English, who get through the night by stealing Listerine from Walmart. State enforced dry areas as well as village elder enforced bans are designed to keep the population of people not used to any alcohol consumption from being destroyed by its allure
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam