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A little birdie told me a few months back that Tok would be getting fiber optic as early as the Fall. Well, now rumor has it that it may be much sooner – like sometime in the next few months!
Anyone who has been following my quest for high speed – and affordable – Internet in rural Alaska knows that “high speed” and “affordable Internet” are not usually used around these parts. I’m currently paying close to $200 for my monthly Internet access, 512k up and down, 10Gig bandwidth allowance, $30 each Gig over. (Waiting for your eyes to pop open and jaw to drop. There it goes.)
I got a peek at some numbers for the new service that will bring Tok onto the Information Superhighway instead of the rural side road and my own eyes popped open and jaw dropped. For the same connection speed, the Gig bandwidth allowance is doubled and the price is about one-fourth of what I pay now! Heck, I could afford the truly high speed connection at those rates.
The clincher is that our local power/phone company doesn’t yet have the equipment to support the fiber optic service but are anticipating the arrival of said equipment to do the upgrade.
To say I’m thrilled is an understatement. And for others in the community, high speed Internet may actually be within more people’s reach.
Hey, I don’t call Tok, Alaska the Social Media Capital of the World for nothing. With high speed access, who knows how many bloggers and Twitterers will hop on board from these parts!
What do YOU think of more affordable Internet?
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9 responses so far ↓
intok // April 7, 2009 at 7:58 pm |
I’ve heard they’re going to test this in Craig and Klawock before they bring it to Tok. Can’t wait!
Floh // April 8, 2009 at 12:24 pm |
It’s high time this happened. you lot shouldn’t be frozen out of the internet due to high costs.
Jacob // April 9, 2009 at 1:33 pm |
I wonder if this will help or hurt social capital in the Tok area. If everyone is Twittering, will they need to go out during the winter to socialize with their buds in town?
Aliza Sherman // April 9, 2009 at 1:37 pm |
Who goes out in winter in Tok? From this past winter – which I’ve been told was pretty mild – everyone seemed to hole up. At least we could tweet each other when we were about to brave the cold for a cuppa Joe at Fast Eddy’s.
intok // April 10, 2009 at 4:24 am |
If you don’t go out in the winter, you won’t find out who does. There are plenty of snow machiners, dog mushers, skiiers, runners, walkers and trappers who are out all winter.
It sounds like you missed the three weeks of the Tok to Dawson snowmachine runs, the Tok Race of Champions, the Tok Junior Dog Musher races and any snowmachine Poker Runs that might be going on.
There is plenty to do here in the winter.
Aliza Sherman // April 10, 2009 at 7:10 pm |
intok – LOL, I was kidding, ya know!
Kelly // April 11, 2009 at 3:43 pm |
Hoping for decent internet in Haines too! Imagining DSL that’s faster than dial up…oooh.
EW // October 17, 2009 at 11:41 am |
Winter is almost here and no DSL so far.
Where is DSL in Tok?
Aliza Sherman // October 17, 2009 at 12:48 pm |
DSL in Tok is much improved and much cheaper than when I first arrived. I’m now getting about 1 MB up/down for only $79.99. Big difference than before, especially on the pocketbook. Thanks AP&T!