Unalaska council ratifies five-year GCI internet contract for public library

Unalaska's public library has locked in five years of internet service at $108,876 a year, with federal E-Rate funding covering $54,059 of that annually. The Unalaska City Council ratified the agreement Tuesday during its regular meeting. The library's previous dedicated fiber contract with GCI delivered 25 Mbps and was scheduled to run through June 30, 2028. The packet material does not say whether the new agreement supersedes, terminates or overlaps with that earlier contract, and it does not spell out the full contract terms or service scope.

The measure ratifies a five-year Master Services Agreement with GCI Communication Corp., along with related education and managed firewall service orders, for public internet at the library on Eleanor Drive. The city's resolution states the service is largely grant funded, with E-Rate covering roughly half the cost.

Alaska public libraries have until Aug. 31 to apply for the state's OWL Internet Cost Assistance grants for fiscal year 2027.