January 2020 – MTA Communications

Scholarships for Alaska’s Future
By Jessica Gilbert, MTA Foundation Manager

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been excited to roll out the refreshed MTA Foundation, which serves to grow talent, promote technology awareness and boost economic development and entrepreneurship in our service area and throughout the great state of Alaska. (It also has a wonderful new website!)

Who knows what Alaska would look like if its current business leaders didn’t receive any training or education in technology? From our point of view, MTA initiatives like the landmark AlCan ONE all-terrestrial fiber line or the eUnlimited™ BYTE Gaming Tournament might not even exist, and residents all around our service area would be sorely lacking in reliable and secure internet connectivity.

With full-fledged and “all-in” support from our parent company, MTA, the MTA Foundation invests in communities so all of us in the Mat-Su Valley and those same residents of our service area do not miss out on technological and economic opportunities. A cornerstone of the MTA Foundation and its commitment to our community is the wide range of scholarships it awards to support students who are focusing their educations on honing technological, business and entrepreneurial skills. Through these scholarships, we are proud to sustain and prepare the next generation of tech and business leaders who might create the projects and initiatives of tomorrow that all of us can only dream of today.

Awarding $75,000 throughout three categories, the MTA Foundation Scholarship Program encourages the pursuit of a variety of educational goals for many kinds of students, including:

First-time college students
Returning students
Students participating in a vocational program or homeschool program
Students pursuing professional development that leads to a degree or certification

Our 2020 application period is now open and runs through April 6, 2020. To learn more about the range of scholarships being offered and apply, visit: https://mtafoundation.org/scholarships

Through these scholarships, Alaska’s students – and in turn, the rest of our great state – will be able to grow and reach their full potential.

When it comes to technology education, we believe in funding the future of our state. The sky is truly the limit in the Last Frontier.

Subsidiary of MTA Recognized by International Telecoms Leaders for Strengthening Alaskans’ Connections to Each Other and International Players

Palmer, Alaska – January 28, 2020 – MTA Fiber Holdings (MTAFH), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MTA, Alaska’s best choice for technology and communications products, announced today it is the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Wireline Company Award from the Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) for its construction and completion of AlCan ONE (Alaska Canada Overland Network), the first and only all-terrestrial fiber network connecting Alaska to the contiguous United States and beyond.

PTC’s annual awards highlight international players who have made outstanding contributions to improving the ability of people and firms in the Pacific region – and those aligned with PTC’s mission – to connect people and organizations for a better world.

In May 2019, MTAFH launched the AlCan ONE fiber network, commencing the construction of a dedicated fiber line for current internet transport needs and future capacity to support the continuing growth of broadband. With a capacity of over 100 terabits per second that can be expanded and increased in the future as demand grows, the network will establish a secure and reliable fiber connection to any point in the contiguous United States, providing MTA’s members, as well as Alaska, with a robust internet connectivity for decades to come. It is expected to be completed in spring of 2020.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized for our investment and dedication to improving Alaska’s internet capacity and connectivity in the years to come,” said Michael Burke, CEO of MTA. “We work tirelessly to help all Alaskans – in our service area and beyond – live their most connected and empowered lives. AlCan ONE signifies our commitment to following through on that idea, further growing the state’s businesses, jobs and economy for all those who live and work here with the help of a scalable, reliable, competitive telecommunications solution.”

The result of years of planning to establish a fiber line out of the state, AlCan ONE will also reduce MTA’s transport expenses, which ultimately will allow investment into other technological, infrastructure and community-centered improvements. This project is a pioneering step for the people of Alaska that will provide increased access to high-speed internet and support business and job growth, as well as increase community connections. AlCan ONE is aided by partnerships with Canadian carriers such as Northwestel in order to extend MTA’s existing network from North Pole, Alaska through Canada and on to the contiguous United States.

“AlCan ONE will connect Alaskans both regionally and internationally, and will reinforce the promising future Alaska has when provided robust technology and internet infrastructure” said Francis LaChapelle, Vice President of Wholesale and Carrier Relations at MTA. “We look forward to Alaskans seeing the benefits that this project will reap once completed, as well as partnering with other regional and international players to further these efforts in the future.”

For more information on MTA Fiber Holdings, please visit www.mtafiber.com.

About MTA Fiber Holdings

MTA Fiber Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MTA, Inc., is the company delivering AlCan ONE, the first and only all-terrestrial fiber route from Alaska to the contiguous U.S. The new fiber network will establish a dedicated fiber line for current internet transport needs and create capacity to support the continuing growth of broadband

Media Contacts
Chris Guizlo or Kyle Wall
The Fearey Group for MTA
MTA@feareygroup.com, (206) 343-1543