June 2023 Newsletter

Welcome to our June 2023 newsletter! It is officially summer, and we are halfway into the year. We hope you are enjoying bright skies and nice weather wherever you are!

Nick Mangini's June Update

I started May with a quick talk with eight Alaskan farmers at the Mariculture Training Center. Three were from the Southwest region, including Adak. I shared pictures from Korea and insight into farming with eight members of the Kodiak Archipelago Leadership Institute (KALI)—a Kodiak-based collective of Alaska Native farmers. 

We had a preliminary meeting with two farmers from the university on the formation of a Kodiak-based co-op for producers. We then brought 13 prospective producers, the contact for KALI, and the other eight farmers to discuss what we would like to see in the future. We had a follow-up meeting with five representatives, discussing how to move forward with our plans.

On the educational side, I gave three talks in classrooms this month. The first (my favorite) was in a second-grade class where students came up with great ideas for the future of Alaskan farms. They all sent me drawings of what they had learned from the hour I spent with them. Next, I talked with the fisheries class at the high school. Lastly, I met digitally with a few interested kids via Zoom to plan a day near my farm in June.

Charlene Ducut's June Update

OneWeb is known for its constellation of 648 low-Earth orbit satellites. The satellites provide high-speed, low-latency connectivity for governments, businesses, and communities. Some folks have reported seeing low-Earth orbit satellites lined up neatly in the sky. However, I have never seen a low-Earth orbit satellite in the sky or up close. So, when OneWeb offered to show SWAMC a demonstration, I counted the days until June 10th. 

We approached an open office door, and immediately OneWeb graciously greeted Executive David Nelson and me. The OneWeb team showed us around the office before showcasing a low-Earth orbit satellite. The satellite was large and white with the red "OneWeb" logo on the front. I hadn't realized these satellites were this big.

After a great demonstration, the OneWeb team presented a PowerPoint which covered the basics, such as the company mission, operations, and technology. I was grateful to learn something new, especially on the technology side. Then, David and I entered another room where we saw the inside of a satellite. The OneWeb team explained how the satellite operated inside the covering. As you would expect, there were a bunch of different parts, which interested me.

After a great discussion, we said our goodbyes to the OneWeb team. David and I are grateful for OneWeb's kindness, and we hope to see more advancements throughout Alaska.

USDA's ReConnect Round 4 Awards

On June 12th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the ReConnect Loan and Grant Program award recipients in its fourth round. Four recipients are in Alaska. These investments will deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet. In addition, the recipients will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity programs.

First, the Matanuska Telecom Association Inc. (MTA) will receive a grant of $12,620,357. This investment will help 144 people, 14 businesses, and one educational facility in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Furthermore, MTA will provide free workshops, informing community members about available assistance plans. This project will serve Tyonek Alaska Native Village Statistical Area.

Second, the Interior Telephone Company will receive a grant of $34,993,700. This investment will help 1,601 people, 48 businesses, and three educational facilities in Nome Census Area. This project will serve the Shaktoolik, St.Michael, Stebbins, and Unalakleet Alaska Native Village Statistical Areas and socially vulnerable communities in Nome Census Area.

Third, the Mukluk Telephone Company will receive a grant of $34,989,295. This investment will help 875 people, 30 businesses, and six educational facilities in Nome Census Area. This project will serve the Inalik and Wales Alaska Native Village Statistical Areas and socially vulnerable communities in Nome Census Area.

Lastly, the Copper Valley Telephone Cooperation Inc. will receive a grant of $17,897,482. This investment will help 109 households in Valdez-Cordova County.

To learn more about the USDA's ReConnect Loan and Grant Program, check out this webpage on the USDA website.

Sen. Gary Stevens – Senate District C

The Legislative session ended after a one-day special session resulted in a compromise between Senate and House members. 

The Senate passed a balanced budget based on the spring revenue forecast and lower revenue projections of $73 per barrel of oil in FY24. Our budget includes funding for vital state services like public safety, education, and health care; capital projects, including airports and AMHS ferries and docks, provided for a $1300 PFD and did not dip into savings. 

The budget also includes an additional Energy Relief Check of up to $500 for those who qualify for a PFD if oil prices increase to a range between $83-105 this year and provides a pathway to repay the state’s savings account. Through negotiations with the House, we were able to come to a compromise and provide a reasonable and responsible budget that does not draw from savings and leaves the state with an $84 million surplus. The budget is now headed to the Governor where he can reduce or veto any line items. 

I look forward to visiting the communities of District C this interim. Please reach out to your regional LIO or contact my office with any questions on state issues: [email protected] 907-486-4925 or 1-800-821-4925.

Rep. Louise Stutes – House District 5

The budget that was passed by the Legislature last month has been transmitted to Governor Dunleavy.

While the Governor did call the Legislature back into a special session, we were able to complete our business on the first day of that session and send the Governor a balanced budget, which contained education funding, a reasonable PFD, and a surplus. The Legislature did not need to dip into our state savings for the first time in nearly a decade.

The Governor has since made his vetoes to the budget. In those vetoes, the BSA went from the Legislature’s one-time increase of $680 per student to $340 per student. Next, Head Start saw a veto of $3.5 million, or about a 20% increase over last year’s funding. The Community Assistance Fund deposit of $30 million was vetoed but will not affect the 2024 distribution, and the University of Alaska saw a $36 million veto which included mainly capital items. In addition to a number of other vetoes, the Governor cut the $1 million that the Legislature had budgeted for public radio and made a $2.5 million cut to tourism marketing.

Two significant items which were not cut in the Governor’s vetoes were the $1,300 PFD and the VPSO program, which remains intact.

Have an announcement or story to share with the region?

Let us know! We may be able to include it in our next newsletter.

Call (907) 562-7380 or email [email protected].