ADL 234755 Calista Lower Kuskokwim Broadband Fiber Optic Line

The State of Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources (DMLW) is issuing a public utility easement to Calista Corporation for the Alaska FiberOptic Project in the Lower Kuskokwim region. The easement will allow installation, operation, and maintenance of fiber‑optic cable across approximately 9,471 ft of state‑owned submerged shorelands, covering about 6.5 acres, to provide broadband internet to seven rural communities. The easement term is indefinite, subject to an as‑built survey and annual land‑use fees. The applicant must provide a performance guarantee of $64,220, maintain insurance, and comply with environmental and cultural resource protections. Fees include a one‑time $5,300‑ish easement fee and an annual $780 land‑use fee. The decision was approved on 8/20/2026 and becomes effective 21 days later. • Project: Fiber‑optic broadband deployment for 7 villages along the Lower Kuskokwim River. • Scope: Subsurface installation, survey, operation, and maintenance of cable across multiple water bodies. • Land: State‑owned submerged shorelands; easement width 30 ft, length ~9,471 ft. • Term: Indefinite (subject to performance guarantee and annual fees). • Fees: ~$5,300 one‑time easement fee + $780 annual land‑use fee; performance guarantee $64,220. • Regulatory: Requires as‑built survey, insurance, and compliance with fish‑habitat, historic preservation, and endangered‑species determinations. • Stakeholders: Calista Corp., Alaska Communications Services, multiple Alaska Native corporations, federal and state agencies.