Communications and Media

Alaska may seem to be a remote location, but with today’s space-age satellite and cable communications systems, Alaska is truly "plugged in" to the rest of the world.

With Anchorage leading the charge, Alaska is equipped with the caliber of telecommunications technologies that will ultimately transform urban life.

Today, nearly every community in Alaska has access to telephones, televisions, public radio, legislative teleconferences, and the Internet. Two undersea fiber-optic cables now link Alaska to the Lower 48 and the world, joining a third cable in place for some years.

The Anchorage area is served by two dozen Internet service providers, five cable and satellite television companies, a dozen cellular phone companies, and scores of telecommunications technology services, including network system specialists, web page designers, software creators, and equipment wholesalers and retailers.

Alaska Communication Systems provides basic telephone service for about $14.42 (including taxes and surcharges) a month. GCI’s monthly charge for basic telephone service is approximately $14.14 (including taxes and surcharges). AT&T Alascom offers residential service for $14.44 (including taxes and surcharges.) The carriers offer additional services such as Caller ID, call waiting and voice mail at an extra charge.

High-speed telecommunications are now available to everyone in Alaska. In fact, Alaska has twice the amount of Internet access and twice the number of computers per capita than the Lower 48. From Digital Subscriber Service to coaxial cable modem and standard modem service, Alaskans have all the latest technology available.

Alaska Communication Systems, Chugach Electric, GCI, Internet Alaska, and TelAlaska all offer local Internet service.

Anchorage is the state’s major media center. It has 20 radio stations, six local television stations, pay television services, a major daily newspaper, several business publications, and alternative newspapers.

The Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage’s only daily newspaper, is a morning edition in broadsheet format, covering news, business, sports, and community affairs in the Municipality. The towns of Eagle River and Girdwood have their own smaller weekly newspapers. Anchorage residents are also served by a number of special interest publications covering Anchorage businesses and news.

Alaska’s business journal is the Alaska Journal of Commerce. Published weekly, the Journal has a paid circulation of 6,400 statewide. Alaska Business Monthly is the statewide monthly business feature magazine and Alaska Business News is a bi-monthly state-wide broadsheet business newspaper.

The Anchorage Press is a local weekly alternative newspaper covering art, entertainment, recreation, and metro feature news. It has an estimated readership of 22,000.

Anchorage has six local television affiliates, including KTUU-Channel 2 (NBC), KTVA-Channel 11 (CBS), Alaska Public Broadcasting (PBS), and KYES-Channel 5 (UPN). Four of the six have local news broadcasts.

Anchorage also has a variety of radio stations, which cover a variety of formats and music. AM talk radio is very popular throughout Alaska, especially during the winter when traffic and weather every six minutes can be a necessity.

GCI is a major cable service provider for Anchorage, Eagle River, Chugiak, Peter’s Creek, and the military bases. Two additional pay television providers who also serve the Anchorage area include: Alaskan Choice Television and WANTV of Anchorage/ATI.