Alaska Broadband Office: grants in final NTIA review; projects expected to be publicly released soon
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Summary
DCCED said the Alaska Broadband Office’s grant list is in final review with federal partners (NTIA) and projects should be publicly released after NTIA approval; department staff anticipates awards and initial project activity within the coming fiscal year.
Officials from the Alaska Broadband Office told the House Finance subcommittee on Feb. 5 that the broadband grant list is in final review with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and that projects will be publicly released once NTIA approves them.
Deputy Commissioner Anna Latham said, "The final meetings between the NTIA and the Broadband Office are occurring in February, and those projects will be publicly released once the NTIA approves them." Administrative Services Director Hannah Lager said the department expects award announcements this calendar year and that final approval timing will determine whether project funds begin in the current fiscal year or at the start of the next.
The department described operational steps already taken: the community and regional affairs division will handle grant administration and the department transferred at least one position to support grant administration. Lager said the grants are funded from capital improvement project receipts tied to a large federal award and that operating activity for administering those CIP‑funded grants is being tracked in the operating budget for transparency.
Legislators pressed for timing and public access to project lists; Lager said projects will be released publicly once federal approval is complete. The subcommittee was told grants were in final federal review and that the department expects to begin grant awards "very soon."
