Tribal Grant Bringing Broadband Fiber to Nenana
Photo Credit: Scott Rhode | Alaska Business
Where the highway and Alaska Railroad intersect Interior rivers, a new thread is plugging into the junction. Nenana is set to receive broadband internet service thanks to a collaboration between Alaska Communications, Tanana Chiefs Conference, and Nenana Native Association. The project received grant funding from the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Round 2 through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
Connectivity and Workforce Training
“This project supports our vision for an innovative, bustling, diverse community which upholds quality education while preserving traditional ways of life,” says JT Baker, tribal administrator of Nenana Native Association. “Access to broadband leads to improved healthcare, education, and economic outcomes.”
The project will bring fiber-optic connectivity to 362 households, 30 businesses, and 9 anchor institutions in Nenana. Service is expected to be available in early 2027.
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February 2025
The Nenana Native Association will tap into Tanana Chiefs Conference’s workforce development initiatives to offer residents paid on-the-job training during installation. The partners will seek to hire at least two apprentices for the two-year term. Apprentices will have the opportunity to engage in project development, design, logistics, and construction of the broadband network, preparing them for careers supporting the network.
“We’re honored to work with Nenana Native Association and Tanana Chiefs Conference, building on their knowledge of traditional values, to bring advanced broadband services adhering to the highest standards in our industry,” says Alaska Communications CEO and President Paul Fenaroli. “Through the creation of local jobs and equitable access to healthcare and education, this project marks an exciting milestone for the storied community of Nenana.”
The grant was made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. The Nenana project follows the announcement last month of another NTIA grant to enable Alaska Communications to bring broadband connectivity to the Kodiak Island villages of Old Harbor, Chiniak, Akhiok, and Womens Bay. Project Nunapet, as it’s called, is a collaboration with Old Harbor Native Corporation.
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Architecture & Engineering + Interior
February 2025
In our February 2025 issue, we highlight how architecture and engineering improve every facet of our daily lives, from increasing the availability and affordability of housing to building small businesses and improving community safety. Projects like these are helmed by Alaska’s exceptional professionals, including the 2024 Anchorage Engineer of the Year Nominees. In the Interior, Red Dog Mine and the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum are both making big moves. Enjoy!