Alaska Senate approves rural internet bill.Governor Dunleavy plans to sign

Has been updated: 31 few minutes ago release date: 31 few minutes ago

JUNEAU — Gov. Mike Dunleavy said he intends to sign a bill that overwhelmingly passed the Senate on Monday to improve internet download speeds for local schools.

House Bill 193 passed quickly through Congress, allowing eligible schools to apply for this year’s funding by the March 27 deadline. Schools will be able to obtain grants to increase download speeds to 100 megabits per second, four times the speed currently required by state law.

“Many schools across Alaska continue to lack the ability to uninterruptedly administer the standardized tests required by state law,” said Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, who sponsored the bill.

The Senate passed HB193 on Monday by an 18-1 vote. Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, was the only non-voter. The House passed the same bill on a 36-4 vote after a lengthy floor session early Thursday morning.

Dunleavy released a statement on social media saying he intends to sign HB193 by the March 27 deadline.

“While this bill is not perfect and more work needs to be done to make broadband affordable in Alaska, it is a step in the right direction.” will help the educational process in rural schools,” Dunleavy said.

Supporters say faster internet for rural Alaska students is an equity issue. They said this will allow students to receive the same education they receive in Alaska’s urban areas.

There is debate about the bill’s cost. The state Department of Education estimates it will cost about $40 million a year. But industry experts say the ministry’s estimates are flawed. Alaska Telecommunications Association members say the actual cost to the state is likely to be closer to $15 million a year. Federal aid typically matches the state budget 8-to-1.

Last year, 151 schools in Alaska received $6.6 million in state grants for download speeds of up to 25 mbps. The Federal Communications Commission said this month that modern broadband networks must provide at least 100Mbps.

Mr. Shower rejected the amendment by a vote of 16-3. This was intended to allow satellite internet services to be considered as an alternative, as they cost less than accessing a fiber network. Schools can already apply for internet access from low-orbit satellites, and a small number of schools have signed contracts with such providers, industry representatives said.

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