In much of Alaska, where internet service is slow or missing, and brutal weather can frequently be life-threatening, a plan to disband a long-televised daily weather report is causing anguish and concerns about access to critical information.
“Oh no! I hope they don’t,” said Chariton Epchook of the village of Kwethluk along the state’s southwest coast. “Checking the weather daily is very important for planning purposes when we’re out trying to live off the land and water.”
For now, the problem for many residents is that much of Alaska lacks reliable broadband internet service even under ideal conditions. Its vulnerability to outages was underscored last week, when sea icea major underwater fiber-optic cable, cutting internet and cellphone service — likely for months — to Nome and multiple other communities in north and northwest Alaska. Even where it’s available, many rural Alaskans cannot afford to pay for the amount of data needed to stream YouTube shows.
“Right now, it’s fishing season. Families watch forecasts for spans of drying time,” he added. “When it’s raining for days on end, it’s not good for drying, and we have to take extra care of what we catch in order for it not to get spoiled and we have to throw it away.” in 2021 by the state’s primary internet provider, GCI. Rural residents say GCI internet costs between $200 and $300 a month.in parts of Alaska through Elon Musk’s Starlink service. Epchook said he recently signed up for Starlink for about $100 a month, but said service has sometimes been spotty.
“Right now, I'm interpreting this time as an evaluation period,” said Wei. “I don't think this is the end of Alaska Weather. There's still very much need for the services NOAA provides. I've offered ideas, like, does it need to be a half-hour? Can it be interstitial in length or like, between programs? That would make things easier for us to distribute.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
As Alaska tourism rebounds, state and federal officials crack down on fake Alaska Native artA Ketchikan man agreed to plead guilty this month to federal charges in conjunction with a long-running scheme to sell fake Alaska Native souvenirs manufactured in the Philippines. Via AlaskaBeacon
Read more »
Media ignores Biden's 'dumb question' slam on reporter after hounding Trump on media attacksWhile major outlets seem to give President Biden a pass for ripping journalists, they continuously bashed former President Trump for negative comments towards them.
Read more »
Photos: Music fest in Midtown Anchorage, and a run of good weather, gives Anchorage reasons to danceSundown Solstice Music Festival features dozens of hip-hop, pop and electronic dance artists to four stages in Cuddy Park. It’s a much bigger event in its second year, an organizer said.
Read more »
Late LGBTQ+ leaders and advocates memorialized in Anchorage ceremonyThe Alaska Rainbow Elders hosted a memorial service on Sunday to remember and celebrate the people who laid the foundation for Alaska’s LGBTQ+ community.
Read more »
Photos: Anchorage Juneteenth citywide celebration
Read more »
Shooting of man sleeping in South Anchorage parking lot was unprovoked attack, prosecutor saysThe fatal shooting of a man lying on the ground in a South Anchorage parking lot last week was described by a prosecutor Monday as an attack on a sleeping homeless person without any apparent reason.
Read more »