# Presentation: 666103

## RURAL WISP SHOWCASE

**Craig Mollerstuen****GCI Communication Corp., Anchorage, Alaska**
**Tuesday, November 4, 2003**

## Conditions in Alaska

## Majority of villages in extremely rural areasPopulation of Alaska is 634,000Population of Anchorage is 268,983 

**Notes:**
Sea ice – Arctic Ocean

**Notes:**
Hooper Bay, Alaska

## State is vast in comparison to size of populationTotal of 571,951 square miles 149 incorporated cities1.1 people per square mile

**Notes:**
Arctic Village

## Most communities not connected by roadsYear-Round Road System Map

**Anchorage**

**Fairbanks**

## Off Year-Round Road System

**Notes:**
Between Aniak and Bethel on the Yukon River, Alaska

## High cost to build and maintain telecommunications infrastructure

**Notes:**
St. Mary’s, Alaska

**Notes:**
Arctic Village, Alaska

## Limited customer baseSales, installation and maintenance costs are high

**Notes:**
Hooper Bay – 

Hooper Bay(HOO-pur); a.k.a. Naparyarmiut 
For Maps of Hooper Bay click here
Current Population:1,075  (2002 DCED Certified Population) 
Incorporation Type:2nd Class City
Borough Located In:Unorganized
Taxes: Sales: 4%, Property: None, Special: None 
Location and Climate 
Hooper Bay is located 20 miles south of Cape Romanzof, 25 miles south of Scammon Bay in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. The city is separated into two sections: a heavily built-up townsite located on gently rolling hills, and a newer section in the lowlands. It lies at approximately 61.53111° North Latitude and -166.09667° West Longitude.  (Sec. 26, T017N, R093W, Seward Meridian.)   Hooper Bay is located in the Bethel Recording District.  The area encompasses 8.7 sq. miles of land and 0.1 sq. miles of water.  The climate in Hooper Bay is maritime. The mean annual snowfall is 75 inches, with a total precipitation of 16 inches. Temperatures range between -25 and 79. Winter ice pack and winds often promote severe conditions. The Bering Sea is ice-free from late June through October. 
_x000b_Topographic_x000b_map of_x000b_Hooper Bay_x000b_area 

History, Culture and Demographics 
"Askinuk" or "Askinaghamiut" are the early Eskimo names for Hooper Bay. The village was first reported in 1878 by E.W. Nelson of the U.S. Signal Service. The 1890 Census found 138 persons living in 14 homes. The name Hooper Bay came into common usage after a post office with this name was established in 1934. The present-day Eskimo name "Naparyarmiut" means "stake village people." The City government was incorporated in 1966. 
A federally recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Hooper Bay. 95.8% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native.  Hooper Bay is a large traditional Yu'pik Eskimo community. Commercial fishing and subsistence activities are the primary means of support. Members of the Village of Paimiut also live in Hooper Bay. The sale or importation of alcohol is banned in the village. 
During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 239 total housing units, and 12 were vacant. 1 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 202 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 37.27%, although 65.94% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $26,667, per capita income was $7,841, and 27.94% of residents were living below the poverty level. 
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care 
Residents currently haul treated water from the washeteria or other watering points. Three new wells were drilled in 1997, 3 miles northeast of town. The school uses its own water system. Honeybuckets are dumped at collection points, then hauled by a 4-wheeler and trailer. Homes are not plumbed. The City is undergoing major improvements for a piped water and vacuum sewer system. A new water treatment/washeteria facility is under construction. Access roads and construction pads are completed. The landfill was expanded in 1997, and includes a new sewage lagoon; the combined site is nearly 20 acres in size. 
Electricity is provided by AVEC. 
There is one school located in the community, attended by 391 students. 
Local hospitals or health clinics include Hooper Bay Health Clinic. 
Economy and Transportation 
Most employment is seasonal with little income-producing activity during the winter. 47 residents hold commercial fishing permits. Coastal Villages Seafood, Inc. processes halibut and salmon in Hooper Bay. BLM fire fighting offers some employment, and grass baskets and ivory handicrafts are produced. The community is interested in developing the Naparyarmiut Arts & Crafts Cooperative. Income is supplemented by subsistence activities. Salmon, walrus, beluga whale and waterfowl are harvested. 
Residents of Hooper Bay rely on air and water transportation. The 3,300' paved runway is State owned and operated. Barge lines deliver shipments of fuel and other bulk supplies throughout the summer. A commercial fishing dock is under construction. Skiffs are used during summer for local transportation. Winter trails exist to Scammon Bay (32 mi.), Chevak (20 mi.) and Paimiut (14 mi.)

## Telecom in Alaska Today

- Alaska leads the nation in percent of population who use the Internet*
- 225 rural schools have enhanced Internet and distance education services
- 110 rural clinics have telehealth services

**Source: US Department of Commerce, A Nation Online: How Americans Are Expanding Their Use of the Internet, February 2002*

**Notes:**
Unalaska/Dutch Harbour, AK

## Overview of Technology in K-12 Schools

**Internet Access**
-  Broadband
-  Email
-  Web hosting
**Distance Learning**
-  Interactive
-   instructional
-   video
-  Collaborative tools
-   for learning

**Notes:**
Manokotak

Manokotak(man-noh-KOH-tuck) 
For Maps of Manokotak click here
Current Population:404  (2002 DCED Certified Population) 
Incorporation Type:2nd Class City
Borough Located In:Unorganized
Taxes: Sales: 2%, Property: None, Special: None 
Location and Climate 
Manokotak is located 25 miles southwest of Dillingham on the Igushik River. It lies 347 miles southwest of Anchorage. It lies at approximately 58.98139° North Latitude and -159.05833° West Longitude.  (Sec. 12, T014S, R059W, Seward Meridian.)   Manokotak is located in the Bristol Bay Recording District.  The area encompasses 36.4 sq. miles of land and 0.9 sq. miles of water.  Manokotak is located in a climatic transition zone. The primary influence is maritime, although the arctic climate affects the region. Average summer temperatures range from 40 to 70; winter temperatures average from 4 to 30. Annual precipitation ranges from 20 to 26 inches. Fog and high winds exist periodically through the year. The River is ice-free from June through mid-November. 
_x000b_Topographic_x000b_map of_x000b_Manokotak_x000b_area 

History, Culture and Demographics 
Manokotak is one of the newer villages in the Bristol Bay region. It became a permanent settlement in 1946-47 with the consolidation of the villages of Igushik and Tuklung. People also migrated from Kulukak, Togiak and Aleknagik. Igushik is now used as a summer fish camp by many of the residents of Manokotak. School was conducted in a church constructed in 1949. A school was built in 1958-59. A post office was established in 1960. Trapping has been an attractive lure to the area, although it has declined since the 1960s. The City was incorporated in 1970. 
A federally recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Manokotak Village Council. 94.7% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native.  Manokotak is a Yup'ik Eskimo village with a fishing, trapping and subsistence lifestyle. The sale, importation or possession of alcohol is banned in the village. 
During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 106 total housing units, and 13 were vacant. 2 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 90 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 13.73%, although 64.84% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $26,875, per capita income was $9,294, and 35.3% of residents were living below the poverty level. 
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care 
Water is derived from two wells, is treated and stored in a 150,000-gallon water storage tank. A piped water and sewer system, constructed in 1972, serves 68 households and the school with complete plumbing. Two homes and a duplex have individual wells. Manokotak Heights, located 4 miles to the south, is served by a well and treatment system, but water shortages have occurred. New HUD housing units were built in 2000, and additional units are planned. A feasibility study is underway to examine water, sewer abd landfill improvements. 
Electricity is provided by Manokotak Power Company. 
There is one school located in the community, attended by 142 students. 
Local hospitals or health clinics include Manokotak Health Clinic. Auxiliary health care is provided by Manokotak First Responders (289-1025). 
Economy and Transportation 
96 residents hold commercial fishing permits for salmon and herring fisheries. Many residents also trap fox, beaver, mink and otter. Most villagers leave Manokotak during the fishing season. Everyone depends heavily on fishing and subsistence activities, and usually move to Igushik or Ekuk each summer. Salmon, herring, sea lion, beluga whale, trout, ptarmigan, duck and berries are harvested. Sharing relationships exist with several area villages, especially Togiak and Twin Hills. 
Manokotak is accessible by air and water. Regular and charter flights are available from Dillingham. There is a State-owned 2,740' lighted gravel airstrip located one mile to the north, and a 5,000' designated seaplane base. Lighterage services deliver cargo each summer, but must pull up to the mud beach; there are currently no docking facilities on the Igushik River. The Igushik River consists of tight, broad meandering loops, therefore many miles of waterway must be traveled to cover a comparably short distance in air miles. A 6.5-mile road to a barge landing area on Snake River began construction in 1998. ATVs, snowmachines, and some vehicles are used for local travel. The Manokotak Trail to Dillingham is used by snowmachines during winter to haul fuel. 

## GCI SchoolAccess: Case Study

-  Lower Kuskokwim  connected one centrally-  located teacher three times  a day for Algebra I and  Geometry classes
-  Connected approximately  145 students in 18 villages
- Bering Strait School  District offered specialized  math classes through the  Alaska Vocation Technical  Center

**Notes:**
Alaska Vocational Technical Center – Seward, Alaska  and
Students in Savoonga, AK

Seward(SOO-word) 
For Photos of Seward click here
Current Population:2,794  (2002 DCED Certified Population) 
Incorporation Type:Home Rule City
Borough Located In:Kenai Peninsula Borough
Taxes: Sales: 4% (City); 2% (Borough), Property: 3.22 mills (City); 6.5 mills (Borough), Special: 4% Accommodations Tax 
Location and Climate 
Seward is situated on Resurrection Bay on the east coast of the Kenai Peninsula, 125 highway miles south of Anchorage. It lies at the foot of Mount Marathon, and is the gateway to the Kenai Fjords National Park. Bear Creek and Lowell Point are adjacent to Seward. It lies at approximately 60.10417° North Latitude and -149.44222° West Longitude.  (Sec. 10, T001S, R001W, Seward Meridian.)   Seward is located in the Seward Recording District.  The area encompasses 14.4 sq. miles of land and 7.1 sq. miles of water.  Seward experiences a maritime climate. Winter temperatures average from 17 to 38; summer temperatures average 49 to 63. Annual precipitation includes 66 inches of rain and 80 inches of snowfall. 
Topographicmap ofSewardarea 

History, Culture and Demographics 
Resurrection Bay was named in 1792 by Russian fur trader and explorer Alexander Baranof. While sailing from Kodiak to Yakutat, he found unexpected shelter in this bay for a storm. He named the Bay Resurrection because it was the Russian Sunday of the Resurrection. Seward was named for U.S. Secretary of State William Seward, 1861-69, who negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia during the Lincoln administration. In the 1890s, Capt. Frank Lowell arrived with his family. In 1903, John and Frank Ballaine and a group of settlers arrived to begin construction of a railroad. Seward became an incorporated City in 1912. The Alaska Railroad was constructed between 1915 and 1923, and Seward developed as the ocean terminus and supply center. By 1960, Seward was the largest community on the Peninsula. Tsunamis generated after the 1964 earthquake destroyed the railroad terminal and killed several residents. As an ice-free harbor, Seward has become an important supply center for Interior Alaska. 2003 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of Seward. 
20.9% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native.  Seward is primarily a non-Native community, although the Qutekcak Tribe is very active within the community. Seward's annual Fourth of July celebration and its grueling Mount Marathon race attracts participants and visitors worldwide. Other annual events include the Seward Silver Salmon Derby in August and the Polar Bear Jump-Off Festival in January. 
During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 1,058 total housing units, and 141 were vacant. 63 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 1,011 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 17.18%, although 55.48% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $44,306, per capita income was $20,360, and 10.6% of residents were living below the poverty level. 
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care 
Water is supplied by nine wells, is treated and distributed throughout Seward. Sewage is collected via pipes to a secondary treatment lagoon. Almost all homes are fully plumbed. Refuse collection is provided by the City under contract; the Borough provides solid waste disposal. Borough refuse transfer facility is located on Hemlock St. Seward Electric System purchases power from Chugach Electric, and owns six standby diesel generators. 
Electricity is provided by Seward Electric System. 
There are 3 schools located in the community, attended by 795 students. 
Local hospitals or health clinics include Providence Seward Medical Center; North Star Health Clinic. The hospital is a qualified Acute Care facility. Long Term Care: Wesley Rehabilitation and Care. Specialized Care: Seward Life Action Council Counseling Facility Auxiliary health care is provided by Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corps (224-3987); Bear Creek Volunteer Fire & EMS, Inc. (224-3345/3338). 
Economy and Transportation 
As the southern terminus for the Alaska Railroad and road link to Anchorage and the Interior, Seward has long been a transportation center. The economy has diversified with tourism, commercial fishing and processing, ship services and repairs, oil and gas development, a coal export facility for Usibelli Mine, Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC), a State Prison, and the University of Alaska's Institute of Marine Sciences. The Alaska SeaLife Center, the the Kenai Fjords National Park, and the Mt. Marathon Race and Fourth of July festivities attract visitors. Over 320,000 cruise ship passengers visit Seward annually. 80 residents hold commercial fishing permits. 
Seward is connected to the Alaska Highway system by the Seward Highway. Bus and commercial trucking services to and from Anchorage are available daily. Air services and charters are available at the State-owned airport. Two paved runways are utilized, at 4,240 and 2,300 feet. The Port serves cruise ships, the State Ferry, cargo barges and ocean freighters from Seattle and overseas. The small boat harbor has moorage for 650 boats, and two boat launch ramps. The Alaska Railroad provides over 1.4 billion pounds of cargo transit each year, importing cargo for the Interior and exporting coal to the Pacific Rim. A new railroad depot was completed in the fall of 1997. Seasonal passenger transportation is available by rail. 

Savoonga(suh-VOON-guh) 
For Photos of Savoonga click here
For Maps of Savoonga click here
Current Population:686  (2002 DCED Certified Population) 
Incorporation Type:2nd Class City
Borough Located In:Unorganized
Taxes: Sales: 3%, Property: None, Special: None 
Location and Climate 
Savoonga is located on the northern coast of St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea, 164 miles west of Nome. It lies 39 miles southeast of Gambell. It lies at approximately 63.69417° North Latitude and -170.47889° West Longitude.  (Sec. 08, T021S, R061W, Kateel River Meridian.)   Savoonga is located in the Cape Nome Recording District.  The area encompasses 6.1 sq. miles of land and 0.0 sq. miles of water.  Savoonga has a subarctic maritime climate with some continental influences during the winter. Summer temperatures average 40 to 51; winters average -7 to 11. Temperature extremes from -34 to 67 have been recorded. Average precipitation is 10 inches annually, with 58 inches of snowfall. The island is subject to prevailing winds, averaging 18 MPH. Freeze-up on the Bering Sea occurs in mid-November, with break-up in late May. 
Topographicmap ofSavoongaarea 

History, Culture and Demographics 
St. Lawrence Island has been inhabited intermittently for the past 2,000 years by both Alaskan and Siberian Yup'ik Eskimos. The island had numerous villages with a total population of around 4,000 by the 19th century. A tragic famine occurred on the island in 1878-80, severely reducing the population. In 1900 a herd of reindeer was moved to the island and by 1917, the herd had grown to over 10,000 animals. A reindeer camp was established in 1916 at the present village site, where grazing lands were better, and the herd tended to remain. Good hunting and trapping in the area attracted more residents. A post office was established in 1934. The City was incorporated in 1969. When the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) was passed in 1971, Gambell and Savoonga decided not to participate, and instead opted for title to the 1.136 million acres of land in the former St. Lawrence Island Reserve. The island is jointly owned by Savoonga and Gambell. 
A federally recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Savoonga. 95.5% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native.  It is a traditional Siberian Yup'ik Eskimo village with a subsistence lifestyle surrounding walrus and whale hunting. Savoonga is hailed as the "Walrus Capital of the World." Whale, seal, walrus and reindeer comprise 80% of islander's diets. Due to the island's isolation, most residents are bilingual -- Siberian Yup'ik is still the first language. Islanders today have successfully mixed the past with the present. The sale, importation and possession of alcohol are banned in the village. 
During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 160 total housing units, and 15 were vacant. 1 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 166 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 37.36%, although 65.42% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $23,438, per capita income was $7,725, and 29.06% of residents were living below the poverty level. 
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care 
Utilities are operated by Savoonga Joint Utilities, a non-profit arm of the City, and run by a Utility Board. Well water is treated and stored in a 100,000-gallon tank at the washeteria. A new circulating water and sewer utilidor system, including household plumbing, came on-line in January 1999. 45 residents are served; the remaining 32 homes currently haul water and honeybuckets. 20 new HUD housing units on the west side are plumbed, but need to be connected to the system. The clinic and school have independent wells and septic systems. A new landfill was recently completed. 
Electricity is provided by AVEC. 
There is one school located in the community, attended by 200 students. 
Local hospitals or health clinics include Savoonga Health Clinic. Auxiliary health care is provided by Savoonga First Responders/Rescue Team (clinic 984-6513/firehall 6234). 
Economy and Transportation 
The economy of Savoonga is largely based upon subsistence hunting of walrus, seal, fish and bowhead and gray whale, with some cash income. Eight residents hold commercial fishing permits, and Norton Sound Seafood Products operates in Savoonga. Reindeer harvests occur, but the herd is not managed. Fox are trapped as a secondary source of income. Islanders are known for their quality ivory carvings. Some tourism occurs by bird-watchers. 
Savoonga's isolated location with no seaport and iced-in conditions during the winter means a dependence on air transport. The State-owned 4,400' gravel airstrip is undergoing major improvements. Regular air service is available from Nome and Unalakleet. There is no dock, so supplies must be lightered from Nome and off-loaded on the beach. Locals want a small boat harbor and dry dock. 

## Overview of Technology in Health Care

**	****Alaska Federal Health Care Access Network (AFHCAN)**
- Key resource for health care delivery in rural Alaska
- Links Community HealthProviders with hospitalphysicians
- “Store and forward”client/server technologyuses ~256K bandwidth
- Videoconference capable of 768K
- Over 240 AFHCAN member sites

## GCI Telehealth: Case Study

- A woman in Alaska's Northwest Arctic Borough goes into labor, miles away from the nearest doctor
- Doctors 200 miles away, in the town of Kotzebue, guided the village's health practitioner through the delivery using live, two-way video and voice technologies
- Now more than half of doctors’ contact with patients is through telemedicine and thousands of "tele-consultations" occur in the region each year

## GCI Telehealth: Case Study

- A Kotzebue woman with a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy was saved with help from advances in telemedicine in September

**Notes:**
Maniilaq Health Center, 
Kotzebue, Alaska

## Inutek.net

- Consortium to provide 10 villages in the Northwest Arctic region with hi-speed Internet access and services
- Partners: Maniilaq Association, OTZ Telephone Cooperative, GCI
- Results: 90% of sign-ups are for hi-speed; rates are about $45 for hi-speed; $25 for low-speed

## GCI Wireless ISP

- GCI provides rural WISP in 74 communities:  (90 by year end, >150 by end of 2004)
- Toll free help lines
- Local installers
- 583 subscribers
- 5,489 households, 10% penetration rate

**Notes:**
Kivalina, Alaska

## GCI Wireless ISP

- Backbone distribution using satellite and digital broadcasting pool
- Local distribution using 2.4 GHz wireless
- Most villages use single “cell”, few use two or three cells
- Local installer/agent in each village

**Notes:**
Picture is Akutan, Alaska

For Photos of Akutan click here For Maps of Akutan click here 
Current Population:748  (2002 DCED Certified Population) 
Incorporation Type:2nd Class City
Borough Located In:Aleutians East Borough
Taxes: Sales: None, Property: None, Special: 1% Raw Fish Tax (City); 2% Raw Fish Tax (Borough) 
Location and Climate 
Akutan is located on Akutan Island in the eastern Aleutians, one of the Krenitzin Islands of the Fox Island group. It is 35 miles east of Unalaska, and 766 air miles southwest of Anchorage. It lies at approximately 54.13556° North Latitude and -165.77306° West Longitude.  (Sec. 11, T070S, R112W, Seward Meridian.)   Akutan is located in the Aleutian Islands Recording District.  The area encompasses 14.0 sq. miles of land and 4.9 sq. miles of water.  Akutan lies in the maritime climate zone, with mild winters and cool summers. Mean temperatures range from 22 to 55. Precipitation averages 28 inches per year. High winds and storms are frequent in the winter, and fog is common in the summer. 
Topographicmap ofAkutanarea   
History, Culture and Demographics 
Akutan began in 1878 as a fur storage and trading port for the Western Fur & Trading Company. The company's agent established a commercial cod fishing and processing business that quickly attracted nearby Unangan to the community. A Russian Orthodox church and a school were built in 1878. Alexander Nevsky Chapel was built in 1918 to replace the original structure. The Pacific Whaling Company built a whale processing station across the bay from Akutan in 1912. It was the only whaling station in the Aleutians, and operated until 1939. After the Japanese attacked Unalaska in June 1942, the U.S. government evacuated Akutan residents to the Ketchikan area. The village was re-established in 1944, although many villagers chose not to return. This exposure to the outside world brought many changes to the traditional lifestyle and attitudes of the community. The City was incorporated in 1979. 
A federally recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Akutan. 16.4% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native.  Akutan is a fishing community, and is the site of a traditional Unangan village. Approximately 75 persons are year-round residents; the majority of the population are transient fish processing workers that live in group quarters. 
During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 38 total housing units, and 4 were vacant. 97 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 83.89%, although 84.84% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $33,750, per capita income was $12,259, and 45.48% of residents were living below the poverty level. 
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care 
Water is supplied by a local stream and dam, originally constructed in 1927. Water is treated and piped into all homes. Funds have been requested to develop two new water catchment dams, and construct a new 125,000-gal. water storage tank and treatment plant. Sewage is piped to a community septic tank, with effluent discharge through an ocean outfall. Refuse is collected three times a week; a new landfill site and incinerator were recently completed. The City recycles aluminum. Trident Seafoods operates its own water, sewer and electric facilities. 
Electricity is provided by Akutan Electric Utility. 
There is one school located in the community, attended by 18 students. 
Local hospitals or health clinics include Anesia Kudrin Memorial Clinic (698-2208). The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center Auxiliary health care is provided by Akutan First Responders (698-2208/2315); flight to Unalaska or Anchorage. 
Economy and Transportation 
Commercial fish processing dominates Akutan's cash-based economy, and many locals are seasonally employed. Trident Seafoods operates a large processing plant west of the City for cod, crab, pollock and fish meal. The population of Akutan can double during processing months. Seven residents hold commercial fishing permits, primarily for halibut and other groundfish. Subsistence foods include seal, salmon, herring, halibut, clams, wild cattle, and game birds. 
Boats and amphibious aircraft are the only means of transportation into Akutan. A 200 ft. dock and a small boat mooring basin are available. Plans are underway to develop a large boat harbor; construction will begin in 2004. The State Ferry operates from Kodiak bi-monthly between May and October. Cargo is delivered weekly by freighter from Seattle; the City owns and operates a landing craft, the M/V Akutan. Akutan has no airstrip due to the steep terrain, however, a seaplane base is available. Daily air service is provided from nearby Unalaska. High waves may limit accessibility during winter months. 

## GCI Wireless ISP Deployment

## Why Wireless Works in Rural Alaska

- 	The Internet will create a virtual interstate highway to our villages where we can maintain cultural spirit, values and Inupiat traditions, but also give instant access to health, education and commerce opportunities anywhere on the globe.
- Dennis Tiepelman, Former president and CEO, Maniilaq Association

-  Rural community, education   and business needs
-  Satellite earth station facilities   already in place
-  Partnering organizations  willing to work together
-  Communities compact since   there are few roads
-  In much of the state there are  few trees

## Rural Wireless Success: Case Studies  

## How It’s Being Used: Bush Pilot in Nelson Lagoon

- Pilot uses Wireless Internet to track storms and identify potential problems
- Accessing web sites that feature weather cameras has proven invaluable in avoiding potential problems
- Uses it for personal and professional purposes

- We consider ourselves very lucky to have access to Wireless Internet.  Now that we have it, we can’t imagine how we ever lived without it.
- 	--Theo Chesley

**Notes:**
Nelson Lagoon 

Nelson Lagoon 
For Photos of Nelson Lagoon click here
For Maps of Nelson Lagoon click here
Current Population:70  (2002 est. by State Demographer, DOL/WD) 
Incorporation Type:Unincorporated
Borough Located In:Aleutians East Borough
Taxes: Sales: None, Property: None, Special: 2% Raw Fish Tax (Borough) 
Location and Climate 
Nelson Lagoon is located on the northern coast of the Alaska Peninsula, on a narrow sand spit that separates the lagoon from the Bering Sea. It is 580 miles southwest of Anchorage. It lies at approximately 56.00194° North Latitude and -161.20278° West Longitude.  (Sec. 25, T048S, R077W, Seward Meridian.)   Nelson Lagoon is located in the Aleutian Islands Recording District.  The area encompasses 135.3 sq. miles of land and 61.4 sq. miles of water.  Nelson Lagoon lies in the maritime climate zone. Frequent and dramatic weather changes occur, with a constant prevailing wind of 20 to 25 MPH. Temperatures average 25 to 50, with a range from -15 to 75. Snowfall averages 56 inches, with a total annual precipitation of 33 inches. 
_x000b_Topographic_x000b_map of_x000b_Nelson Lagoon_x000b_area 

History, Culture and Demographics 
Nelson Lagoon has been used historically as an Unangan summer fish camp. The resources of the lagoon and nearby Bear River are excellent. The lagoon was named in 1882 for Edward William Nelson of the U.S. Signal Corps, an explorer in the Yukon Delta region between 1877 and 1920. A salmon saltery operated from 1906 to 1917, which attracted Scandinavian fishermen, but there has been no cannery since. In 1965 a school was built and the community began to be occupied year-round. 
A federally recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Nelson Lagoon. 81.9% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native.  The culture is focused on commercial fishing and subsistence activities. There is a strong community pride and loyalty among the residents, with a desire to maintain their lifestyle with slow, monitored growth and development that can be well managed by the residents. 
During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 33 total housing units, and 2 were vacant. 2 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 21 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 46.15%, although 66.67% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $43,750, per capita income was $27,596, and 6.41% of residents were living below the poverty level. 
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care 
Water is derived from a lake about 10 miles from Nelson Lagoon and is treated. Water storage capacity is 600,000 gallons. All homes are connected to the piped water system. Individual septic systems enable households to have complete plumbing. A new washeteria was completed in August 1999. The water system needs major improvements, including repair of the distribution system and a new storage tank. There are no garbage collection services, but a landfill is available. 
Electricity is provided by Nelson Lagoon Electric Cooperative. 
There is one school located in the community, attended by 11 students. 
Local hospitals or health clinics include Nelson Lagoon Health Clinic. Auxiliary health care is provided by Nelson Lagoon First Responders (989-2202). 
Economy and Transportation 
Nelson Lagoon is situated in the middle of a rich and productive salmon fisheries area. 24 residents hold commercial fishing permits, primarily salmon gillnet. Subsistence activities balance the seasonal nature of the fishery. Some trapping occurs. Residents are interested in developing a small seafood processing and cold storage facility. 
Nelson Lagoon is accessible only by air and sea. A State-owned 4,000' gravel runway serves regularly-scheduled flights. A new dock, boat ramp, a harbormaster's office and warehouse were completed in the mid- to late-1990s. Some freight is landed at the Peter Pan Seafoods dock, 30 miles away at Port Moller. 

## How It’s Being Used: Saint Mary’s

-  Communicate with city  attorney more easily
-  Job announcements and  postings disseminated  nationwide
-  Forms for city offices
-  Software updates

- Many people don’t realize that Internet access enables you to do simple things, like update software, that otherwise you would not be able to do.					--Walton Smith

**Notes:**
Saint Mary'sa.k.a. Algaaciq; includes Andreafsky 

Current Population:549  (2002 DCED Certified Population) 
Incorporation Type:1st Class City
Borough Located In:Unorganized
Taxes: Sales: 3%, Property: None, Special: None 
Location and Climate 
St. Mary's is located on the north bank of the Andreafsky River, 5 miles from its confluence with the Yukon River. It lies 450 air miles west-northwest of Anchorage. The City of St. Mary's encompasses the Yup'ik villages of St. Mary's and Andreafsky. It lies at approximately 62.05306° North Latitude and -163.16583° West Longitude.  (Sec. 26, T023N, R076W, Seward Meridian.)   Saint Mary's is located in the Bethel Recording District.  The area encompasses 44.0 sq. miles of land and 6.3 sq. miles of water.  The climate is continental with a significant maritime influence. Temperatures range between -44 and 83. Annual precipitation measures 16 inches, with 60 inches of snowfall. The Yukon is ice-free from June through October. 
_x000b_Topographic_x000b_map of_x000b_Saint Mary's_x000b_area 

History, Culture and Demographics 
In 1899, Andreafsky was established as a supply depot and winter headquarters for the Northern Commercial Company's riverboat fleet. The village took its name from the Andrea family which settled on the River and built a Russian Orthodox Church. In 1903, Jesuit missionaries set up a mission 90 miles downriver at "Akulurak" to educate and care for the children orphaned by a flu epidemic in 1900-01. Akulurak means "in between place," aptly describing the village, which was on an island in a slough connecting two arms of the Yukon River. The mission school flourished, and by 1915, there were 70 full-time students. Over the years, the slough surrounding Akulurak silted in severely. In 1948, the villagers decided to move to higher ground. Materials from an abandoned hotel built during the gold rush were used to construct the new mission and several village homes at the present site. In 1949, an unused 15' by 30' building and other building materials from Galena Air Force Station were barged to Saint Mary's by Father Spills, a Jesuit priest. These materials, along with a tractor borrowed from Holy Cross, were used to construct a school. During the 1950s, a number of Yup'ik families moved into the Andreafsky area, only a short distance from the mission. Dormitories and a large house for the Jesuits were built during the 1960s. In 1967, the area adjacent to the mission incorporated as the City of St. Mary's, although Andreafsky chose to remain independent. In 1980, the residents of Andreafsky voted for annexation into the City. In 1987, the Catholic Church closed the mission school. 
A federally recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Algaaciq Tribal Government; Yupiit of Andreafsky. 87.6% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native.  St. Mary's is a Yup'ik Eskimo community that maintains a fishing and subsistence lifestyle. The sale of alcohol is prohibited in the City. 
During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 186 total housing units, and 49 were vacant. 25 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 219 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 11.34%, although 35.4% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $39,375, per capita income was $15,837, and 20.41% of residents were living below the poverty level. 
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care 
Water is derived from Alstrom Creek reservoir and is treated. The majority of the City (120 homes and facilities) have complete plumbing and are connected to the piped water and sewer system. Waste heat from the power plant supports the circulating water system. A 1.7-million-gallon sewage lagoon provides waste treatment. Approximately 15 residences haul water and use honeybuckets; the City provides hauling services. 20 new HUD houses were recently connected to the system. A new honeybucket disposal site is under construction. Funds have been requested to repair plumbing in 40 older homes, and to study replacement of the failing 30-year-old water and sewer mains. A washeteria is available nearby at Pitka's Point. The landfill must be relocated. 
Electricity is provided by AVEC. 
There is one school located in the community, attended by 170 students. 
Local hospitals or health clinics include St. Mary's Sub-Regional Clinic. Staffed by Operations Manager, Health Practitioner, Physician's Assistant, Dentist, and 4 Health Aides 
Economy and Transportation 
The economy in St. Mary's seasonal. 65 residents hold commercial fishing permits. A cold storage facility is available. Cash income is supplemented by subsistence activities and trapping. Salmon, moose, bear, and waterfowl are harvested. There are two general stores, Alaska Commercial Co. and Yukon Traders. A new regional Post Office was recently completed. 
St. Mary's is served by barge and aircraft. The State-owned 6,000' gravel runway and 1,900' crosswind strip provide year-round access. The airfield is capable of receiving large jet aircraft, but service was discontinued in 1990. A 22-mile road links St. Mary's to Andreafsky, Pitka's Point, and Mountain Village. They are not maintained during winter months, but are used by snow machines. The Andreafsky River provides the only deep-water dock in the Delta. 

## How It’s Being Used: Ft. Yukon

- Sharing information among clinics, administrative offices
- Sending pictures to family and friends
- Communicating with the outside world to save time, resources
- Conducting day-to-day activities that otherwise would have to be done by fax/phone

- Some days there is virtually no transfer of information outside of the village besides email.  If the weather is bad and bush planes can’t reach us, we have no mail, which is why the use of e-mail is so crucial.  	--Derik Hinz

**Notes:**
Picture is... Beaver, Alaska

Fort Yukon(YOO-kawn) 

Current Population:581  (2002 DCED Certified Population) 
Incorporation Type:2nd Class City
Borough Located In:Unorganized
Taxes: Sales: 3%, Property: None, Special: None 
Location and Climate 
Fort Yukon is located at the confluence of the Yukon River and the Porcupine River, about 145 air miles northeast of Fairbanks. It lies at approximately 66.56472° North Latitude and -145.27389° West Longitude.  (Sec. 18, T020N, R012E, Fairbanks Meridian.)   Fort Yukon is located in the Fairbanks Recording District.  The area encompasses 7.0 sq. miles of land and 0.4 sq. miles of water.  The winters are long and harsh and the summers are short but warm. After freeze-up the plateau is a source of cold, continental arctic air. Daily minimum temperatures between November and March are usually below 0. Extended periods of -50 to -60 are common. Summer high temperatures run 65 to 72; a high of 97 degrees has been recorded. Total annual precipitation averages 6.58 inches, with 43.4 inches of snowfall. The Yukon River is ice-free from the end of May through mid-September. 
_x000b_Topographic_x000b_map of_x000b_Fort Yukon_x000b_area 

History, Culture and Demographics 
Fort Yukon was founded in 1847 by Alexander Murray as a Canadian outpost in Russian Territory. It became an important trade center for the Gwich'in Indians, who inhabited the vast lowlands of the Yukon Flats and River valleys. The Hudson Bay Company, a British trading company, operated at Fort Yukon from 1846 until 1869. In 1862, a mission school was established. In 1867, Alaska was purchased by the U.S., and two years later it was determined that Fort Yukon was on American soil. Moses Mercier, a trader with the Alaska Commercial Company, took over operation of the Fort Yukon Trading Post. A post office was established in 1898. The fur trade of the 1800s, the whaling boom on the Arctic coast (1889-1904), and the Klondike gold rush spurred economic activity and provided some economic opportunities for the Natives. However, major epidemics of introduced diseases struck the Fort Yukon population from the 1860s until the 1920s. In 1949, a flood damaged or destroyed many homes in Fort Yukon. During the 1950s, a White Alice radar site and an Air Force station were established. Fort Yukon incorporated as a city in 1959. 
A federally recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Fort Yukon; Canyon Village Traditional Council (not recognized). 88.7% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native.  Most Fort Yukon residents are descendants of the Yukon Flats, Chandalar River, Birch Creek, Black River and Porcupine River Gwich'in Athabascan tribes. Subsistence is an important component of the local culture. The sale of alcohol is restricted to the City-owned package store. 
During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 317 total housing units, and 92 were vacant. 37 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 237 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 17.99%, although 47.22% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $29,375, per capita income was $13,360, and 18.55% of residents were living below the poverty level. 
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care 
Water is derived from two wells, is treated and stored in a 110,000-gal. tank. A combination of piped water, water delivery and individual wells serve households. A flush/haul system, septic tanks, honeybuckets and outhouses are used for sewage disposal. Approximately half of all homes are plumbed. The piped water system and household septic tanks were installed in 1984. The City has received funds to begin repairs to the piped water system, and to design a piped gravity sewer system to serve 250 residents and businesses. 
Electricity is provided by Gwitchyaa Zhee Utilities. 
There are 2 schools located in the community, attended by 122 students. 
Local hospitals or health clinics include Yukon Flats Health Center (662-2460). The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center Auxiliary health care is provided by Fort Yukon EMS & Rescue Squad (662-2460/2461). 
Economy and Transportation 
City, state, federal agencies and the Native corporation are the primary employers in Fort Yukon. The School District is the largest employer. Winter tourism is becoming increasingly popular -- Fort Yukon experiences spectacular Northern Lights. The BLM operates an emergency fire fighting base at the airport. The U.S. Air Force operates a White Alice Radar Station in Fort Yukon. Trapping and Native handicrafts also provide income. Residents rely on subsistence foods -- salmon, whitefish, moose, bear, caribou, and waterfowl provide most meat sources. One resident holds a commercial fishing permit. 
Fort Yukon is accessible by air, and barge during the summer months. Heavy cargo is brought in by barge from the end of May through mid-September; there is a barge off-loading area, but no dock. Riverboats and skiffs are used for recreation, hunting, fishing and other subsistence activities. A State-owned 5,810' lighted gravel airstrip is available; Hospital Lake, adjacent to the airport, is used by float planes. There are 17 miles of local roads, and over 100 automobiles and trucks. The City Transit Bus system provides transport throughout the town. Snowmachines and dog sleds are used on area trails or the frozen river, which becomes an ice road to area villages during winter. 

## How It’s Being Used: Kiana

- Share documents between villages
- Keep in touch with family members, send pictures
- Adults take online courses and explore education opportunities
- Keep kids out of trouble, give them something to do

- Kids particularly benefit from Internet access and this has sparked an interest in many of them to pursue future careers working with technology and computers.
- 		--John Im

**Notes:**
Picture is... 

Kiana(kai-ANN-uh) 

Current Population:399  (2002 DCED Certified Population) 
Incorporation Type:2nd Class City
Borough Located In:Northwest Arctic Borough
Taxes: Sales: 2%, Property: None, Special: None 
Location and Climate 
Kiana is located on the north bank of the Kobuk River, 57 air miles east of Kotzebue. It lies at approximately 66.975° North Latitude and -160.42278° West Longitude.  (Sec. 09, T018N, R008W, Kateel River Meridian.)   Kiana is located in the Kotzebue Recording District.  The area encompasses 0.2 sq. miles of land and 0.0 sq. miles of water.  Kiana is located in the transitional climate zone. Temperatures average -10 to 15 during winter; 40 to 60 during summer. Temperature extremes have been recorded from -54 to 87. Snowfall averages 60 inches, with 16 inches of total precipitation per year. The Kobuk River is navigable from the end of May to early October. 
Topographicmap ofKianaarea 

History, Culture and Demographics 
Kiana means "a place where three rivers meet." It was established long ago as the central village of the Kobuk River Kowagmiut Inupiat Eskimos. In 1909, it became a supply center for the Squirrel River placer mines. A post office was established in 1915. The City government was incorporated in 1964. Prior to the formation of the Northwest Arctic Borough in 1976, the BIA high school taught students from Noatak, Shungnak and Ambler, who boarded with local residents. 
A federally recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Kiana Traditional Council. 92.8% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native.  Kiana is a traditional Inupiat Eskimo village practicing a subsistence lifestyle. The sale or importation of alcohol is banned in the village. 
During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 133 total housing units, and 36 were vacant. 3 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 99 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 11.61%, although 51.23% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $39,688, per capita income was $11,534, and 11.24% of residents were living below the poverty level. 
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care 
A 200,000-gallon steel tank is intermittently filled from two wells near the Kobuk River. Water is chlorinated prior to distribution through buried water mains. Piped water and sewer are provided to 73 homes, the clinic, school and community hall. Kiana maintains a 6-inch buried gravity sewer system, which drains to a lift station and is pumped through a buried force main to the sewage treatment lagoon northeast of the village. 19 households haul water and use honeybuckets or septic tanks. The landfill is located west of the sewage disposal lagoon. The site needs to be relocated. A water and sewer Master Plan, new water treatment, and additional service connections have been funded. 
Electricity is provided by AVEC. 
There is one school located in the community, attended by 120 students. 
Local hospitals or health clinics include Kiana Health Clinic. 
Economy and Transportation 
The economy depends on traditional subsistence activities, augmented by a cash economy. Chum salmon, freshwater fish, moose, caribou, waterfowl and berries are harvested. The school, City, and Maniilaq Association provide the majority of year-round jobs. The Red Dog Mine also offers area employment. Kiana is one of the more modern villages in the Borough, and has three general stores. Two residents hold commercial fishing permits; seasonal employment also includes work on river barges, BLM fire-fighting and jade mining. There is local interest in constructing a whitefish and turbot value-added processing plant. The City is also interested in developing eco-tourism, primarily guided river trips to the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes. 
The major means of transportation are plane, small boat and snowmachine. The State-owned Bob Baker Memorial Airport has a 3,400' lighted gravel runway. Daily scheduled flights and charter flights are provided. Crowley Marine Services barges fuel and supplies each summer, and local store owners have large boats to bring supplies upriver. Boats, ATVs and snowmachines are used extensively for local travel, and there are many trucks. A road extends along the river to Kobuk Camp, and a network of old trading trails exists. 

## Conclusion/Outlook 

- Residential customer penetration rates are high
- Unexpected commercial uses are presenting themselves
- This is a “high social value” service
- There are and will be challenges; GCI is committed to offering broadband access in every community we serve

## GCI Rural WISP Showcase

- Craig Mollerstuen
- GCI, Broadband Services
- cmollerstuen@gci.com
- (907) 868-5727