Ketchikan's Fibre Optic hopes to be part of today's municipal election vote

Proposition Two is the focus for Ketchikan Public Utilities today as Ketchikan residents go to the polls to cast their vote in municipal elections and on a trio of propositions.

For the Utility company which offers Internet service to residents of the Alaskan city, Prop Two will be the vehicle that hey hope will deliver a Fibre Optic link to the community.

With the Utility Company seeking out a positive vote of city residents for  municipal bond funding for the 11.5 million dollar undersea fibre project that will connect them with Prince Rupert and the North American fibre network.

The Proposition Question for Ketchikan Voters to deliver a Yes or a No on today outlines what KPU is has put in front of the voters for consideration:

To pay cost of designing, acquiring, construction and maintaining a new undersea fibre optic cable for the telecommunications system operated by Ketchikan Public Utilities, which will permit expanded capacity for data streaming, cell phone service and internet services, shall the City issue and sell not to exceed $11,500,000 of its revenue bonds maturing with a maximum term of 20 years, payable solely from revenues of Ketchikan Public Utilities, as provided in Resolution No. 19-2748 of the City Council?

The first push towards the north-south connection came in 2018, though the work towards moving forward on obtaining the funding for the project only recently gathered some steam with the Proposition plans to approve the bond borrowing to make it a reality.

We have outlined the planning in motion for the project in the past, an initiative which would see CityWest contracted to run the fibre line from the North Coast to its sister city to the north.

June 2019 -- Ketchikan continues planning for fibre optic link that will connect community with Prince Rupert and beyond
January 2019 -- CityWest begins exploratory work for fibre link for Ketchikan
November 2018 -- Ketchikan defers sub sea fibre optic link to Prince Rupert until next year

Earlier this month, Ketchikan public radio station KRBD provided some background on the proposition and KPU's plans for the fibre link.

For more items of note related to communications on the North Coast see our archive page here.