The Alaska telecommunications provider, GCI, completed Phase 1 of the TERRA-NW broadband service in December and started transmitting commercial traffic on Jan. 3, 2013. Travois New Markets used a portion of its 2011 allocation to assist with financing.
The new network provides broadband to 808 businesses, 79 schools, and 74 hospitals and clinics, including the new $91 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — funded, tribally-owned, and operated Norton Sound Regional Hospital in Nome.
Alaska Natives who live in remote villages were able to use video conferencing to receive medical and psychiatric care; students can connect over video conferencing to receive remote instruction in courses — all services which were once thought impossible.
Other stages of the project have received NMTC financing as well.