(Michael Bland is the CDE manager for Travois New Markets.)
The Alaska telecommunications provider, GCI, completed Phase 1 of the TERRA-NW broadband service in December and started transmitting commercial traffic on Jan. 3. Travois New Markets used a portion of its 2011 allocation to assist with financing. The new network will provide broadband to 808 businesses, 79 schools and 74 hospitals and clinics, including the new $91 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — funded, tribally-owned and operated Norton Sound Regional Hospital in Nome. Alaska Natives who live in remote villages will be able to use video conferencing to receive medical and psychiatric care; students can connect over video conferencing to receive remote instruction in courses — all services which were once thought impossible.
Part of Phase 1 is a mountain top tower in Unalakleet. Each site consists of a tower, a server and battery modular trailer, two diesel generators and fuel tanks. The batteries insure that service remains uninterrupted during loss of power or should the two 4,500 gallon tanks run dry. Much of the equipment is barged in from Seattle and then airlifted by helicopter to each specific site. I visited the Unalakleet site in July of 2012 and here are some photos:
The generator module with its two 4,500 gallon fuel tanks.
A tower just delivered by barge waiting to be airlifted.
Inside the server module.
Workers building the foundation for the Unalakleet tower.
A view from mountaintop site in Unalakleet.
For more information on TERRA-NW and other NMTC projects, click here.