Broadband Office Name: Alaska Broadband Office (ABO)
BEAD Award Amount: $1.02 B
Alaska Broadband Director: Thomas Lochner
Alaska BEAD Program Tracker
| State | IP Vol 1 Approval | IP Vol 2 Approval | Challenge Process Submission Started | Challenge Process Final Determination Phase Completed | 1-Year Subgrantee Selection Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Yes | No | Yes | No | N/A |
Alaska BEAD Program Information
Key Updates
The Alaska Broadband Office (ABO) is in the BEAD Challenge Process Phase. Its ISP Rebuttal Period ran until July 5th, during which challenges were reviewed and either accepted or rebutted by ISPs.
Following this, the Final Determination Phase of the Challenge Process will take place until August 4th, during which the ABO will decide in favor of the challenge or the rebuttal.
Once the ABO receives approval from NTIA on its Initial Proposal Volume 2, it will be able to begin the Subgrantee Selection Process.
Alaska BEAD Program Plans & Maps
Alaska BEAD Program Initial Proposal Volume 2: Overview
*Information is subject to change. Alaska is awaiting official approval of Initial Proposal Volume 2 from the NTIA.
BEAD Long-Term Objectives
The Alaska Broadband Office (ABO) aims for universal broadband deployment to provide affordable access to all Alaskans, from Adak to Yakutat. Achieving digital equity, particularly in unserved communities, will require both in-home access and access through anchor institutions.
Goal: Provide sufficient capacity to unserved and underserved locations, coupled with Digital Equity training, so that individuals and communities can fully participate in the global society and economy.
Success will be measured in each community by:
- The ability of individuals and families to participate in the global society and economy.
- The availability of affordable broadband service.
- Ensuring an economically self-sustaining broadband infrastructure network.
- For Priority Projects, requiring a scalable broadband infrastructure network capable of 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload speeds.
Objectives:
- Develop a Digital Equity Plan to address digital equity deficiencies.
- Collaborate and coordinate with Tribal and local entities, the telecommunications industry, community anchor institutions, and the public to design the most strategic network for reaching all unserved and underserved communities through the BEAD subgrant program.
- Distribute BEAD funding through a competitive subgrant program for deploying broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved communities.
- Coordinate with industry, organized labor, universities and trade programs, workforce alliances, Native entities, local governments, economic development organizations, the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Governor’s Office of Infrastructure Coordination, and other state agencies to develop a plan ensuring an available and qualified workforce for the deployment and maintenance of broadband infrastructure.
Alaska BEAD Program Project Area Design
The project areas in Alaska will fall into two distinct categories:
- Broadband Service Locations (BSLs) within community maps or municipal/borough boundaries.
- BSLs outside the described boundaries.
Prioritization:
- Unserved locations
- Underserved locations
- Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs)
If 100% coverage of unserved locations in Alaska is achieved through application submittals and funds remain, awards will then be considered for underserved locations, followed by awards for community anchor institutions.
Alaska BEAD Program Extremely High Cost Threshold
All the Broadband Service Locations (BSLs) that fall outside of community map boundaries and/or within municipal and borough boundaries are considered Extremely High Cost Per Location (EHC) locations.
BEAD Deployment Subgrantee Selection
ABO is asking for the following preregistration evidence from subgrantees and compliance with: Financial capability, managerial capability, operational capability, technical capability, ownership info, public funding info, compliance with laws, cybersecurity/supply chain compliance, and BABA/EHP/NEPA/NHPA compliance.
Primary Scoring Criteria for Priority Broadband Projects
- 20% – Cost Per Location
- 20% – Connecting Every BSL within a Community and Every Community Along the Path
- 30% – Affordability and Plans
- 15% – Fair Labor Practices
Secondary Scoring Criteria
- 5% – Speed to Deployment
- 5% – Non-Traditional Provider
- 5% – Use of SOA/DNR/OPMP Resource
Other Last-Mile Projects
Primary Scoring Criteria for Priority Broadband Projects
- 7.5% – Cost Per Location
- 7.5% – Connecting Every BSL within a Community and Every Community Along the Path
- 25% – Match (Non-Federal)
- 30% – Affordability and Plans
- 15% – Fair Labor Practices
Secondary Scoring Criteria
- 5% – Speed to Deployment
- 5% – Non-Traditional Provider
- 5% – Use of SOA/DNR/OPMP Resource
BEAD Non-Deployment Subgrantee Selection
ABO has calculated that, after addressing the needs of unserved and underserved locations as well as Community Anchor Institutions, there will be no remaining funds. In the unusual event that there are remaining funds, the ABO will apply all remaining funds to the Digital Equity Capacity Grants.
BEAD Eligible Entity Implementation
ABO will be implementing initiatives solely through subgrants.
BEAD Local, Tribe, and Regional Broadband Planning Process
The Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED) has hired a Tribal Liaison in the Alaska Broadband Office (ABO) to ensure the inclusion of Native entities and voices. Alaska is home to 229 federally recognized tribes, 12 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) corporations, and over 200 village corporations.
Engagement Program Objectives:
- Establish clear procedures for transparency.
- Conduct meaningful outreach to diverse stakeholder groups.
- Implement participation mechanisms, including newsletters, newspapers, the ABO website, direct outreach, Tribal outreach, and in-person travel to unserved and underserved areas.
Tribal Liaison Responsibilities: The Tribal Liaison is responsible for the Tribal consultation process. In the first round, the ABO sent packets to 438 organizations, including:
- Dear Tribal Leader Letter (DTLL)
- Tribal Consultation Agenda
- PowerPoint Presentation on the ABO status
- Capital Cost Model
- Reverse Margin Operations and Maintenance Model for ongoing sustainability
Consultation Efforts: The ABO has held four tribal consultations (online and in-person) to inform Native entities about their work and gather information on current and future broadband efforts. They plan to hold additional consultations focused on:
- The State Challenge Process
- Assistance with Grant Applications
- Cybersecurity
These efforts aim to ensure comprehensive and inclusive participation in Alaska’s broadband development initiatives.
BEAD Labor Standards & Protection
ABO requires all BEAD subgrantees to submit the following information:
A record of past compliance with federal/employment laws:
- Must address info on deployment projects within the last 3 years.
- Certification form from an Officer/Director level employee of past compliance.
- Written confirmation that subgrantee has disclosed any violations from contractors within the last 3 years.
- Discussion of workforce plan
Plans for ensuring compliance with federal/employment laws:
- How subgrantee will ensure compliance in its labor/employment practices.
- Info on applicable wage scales, wage, and overtime practices for each class of employee expected to be involved in physical construction of the network.
- How subgrantee will ensure implementation of workplace safety committees.
- Comply with the Prevailing Wages Act.
- Other items as outlined in the BEAD NOFO.
BEAD Minority Business Enterprises / Women’s Business Enterprises / Labor Surplus Area Firms Inclusion
ABO will work with subgrantees during the award period to maximize their use of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), and Labor Surplus Area Firms (LSAFs).
The ABO will collaborate closely with the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development to provide information regarding MBE, WBE, and LSAF certification requirements.
BEAD Cost & Barrier Reduction
1. Promoting the use of existing infrastructure.
2. Promoting and adapting dig-once policies.
3. Streamlining permitting processes.
4. Streamlining cost-effective access to poles, conduits, and easements.
5. Streamlining rights of way, including the imposition of reasonable access requirements.
BEAD Low-Cost Broadband Service Option
ABO has defined the term Low-Cost Option as a service plan following these parameters:
- A minimum service bandwidth of 100/20 Mbps that is no greater than 120% of the retail rate for a similar service in urban Alaska areas.
- Meets the FCC rule of 80% capacity, 80% of the time during the busy hour, with a maximum of 100 ms latency one way.
BEAD Middle-Class Affordability
The term Middle Class Affordability is defined by ABO as a service plan with the following parameters:
- A minimum service bandwidth of 100/20 Mbps at a rate no greater than the rate in urban markets with at least a 70% take rate.
- Meets the FCC rule of 80% capacity, 80% of the time during the busy hour, with a maximum of 100 ms latency one way.
