WTA, Others Back Alaska Plan Petition

WTA asked the FCC to grant the Alaska Telecom Association's petition to update and extend the Alaska Plan. The proposed revisions are "wholly reasonable and necessary to continue progress in providing reasonably comparable and affordable broadband service in some of the nation’s most difficult and expensive environments," WTA said in comments posted Thursday in docket 16-271 (see 2301060045). Alaska Communications agreed, saying there will be a "continuing need for high-cost universal service support to operate, maintain, and upgrade deployed networks" once broadband deployment across Alaska is achieved. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) also backed the petition. The FCC should "move expeditiously to adopt the proposed changes," Dunleavy said, noting the program has been "foundational" to telecom service in the state.