August 2, 2012 FCC to Help Expand Broadband Services in Rural Alaska
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Photo by Diana Haecker SUMMERCISE!— The cheerleading squad showed what they learned as the second session of Summercise concluded last week with a performance. See story page 8. C VOLUME CXII NO. 31 August 2, 2012 FCC to help expand broadband services in rural Alaska By Diana Haecker a handle on what is needed in com- has to do with airwaves: television, senior policy advisor, and Irene Flan- dishing out grant money? Barb Nick- The Federal Communications munication infrastructure and policy radio, telephone, cell phone and In- nery, deputy chief, experienced the els with the Nome Chamber of Com- Commission last October decided to in rural Alaska. Although their meet- ternet. “By the time you have your gaps in service first hand when they merce asked, “What can we do to modernize U.S. communications in- ing in Nome to hear from the public first sip of coffee, the FCC has al- traveled to Noatak, where their cell help you help us?” Blackwell an- frastructure and to expand broadband was poorly advertised and only an- ready touched your life in multiple phones told them ‘no service’ and swered to provide comment that he services to underserved areas nounced a few days prior to their ar- ways: listening to the radio as you that they appeared to have traveled can take to the commission. “The through a new “Connect America” rival, more than a dozen people wake up, watching the morning news out of the country. And when they hardest part of my job is to build the fund that aims to connect all Ameri- found their way to Old St. Joe’s last on TV and maybe checking your had to use the internet in Kotzebue record,” he said. cans to broadband. More than 14,000 Wednesday. The message was clear messages on your phone,” Geoffrey or Nome, they felt they were taken Jim Stimpfle vented his frustra- rural Alaskans should benefit from and simple: Northwest Alaskans Blackwell told the audience at last back to a distant past. “The Internet tion. “Our service here is so slow, the Connect America fund once the crave fast, reliable and reasonably week’s meeting. Blackwell explained connection was so slow […] we you can’t even download a movie on build-out is completed. While the ex- priced Internet service and improved that they want to go where the prob- don’t even remember if we ever ex- our regular GCI or TelAlaska serv- pansion has been decided at the pol- cell phone service. Pearl Mikulski, lems are. Under those premises, they perienced this slow of a service,” ice, much less Skype,” Stimpfle said. icy level, now programs need to be vice president of community services hit the jackpot. Blackwell, chief of Rumelt said. “The Bering Strait School District created to make it a reality. at Kawerak Inc., stressed the impor- the FCC office of Native Affairs and How can the FCC help, given that Three high-level officials with the tance of the FCC officials to have Policy, along with Daniel Rumelt, they are regulators, not an agency continued on page 4 Federal Communications Commis- come out to Northwestern Alaska sion office of Native Affairs and Pol- and to witness first hand the difficul- icy visited Nome and other parts of ties its residents face. Northwestern Alaska last week to get The FCC regulates everything that Nome man pleads guilty in strangulation death By Sandra L. Medearis of second- degree murder—with in- Shawn Oquilluk will likely serve tent to do injury, with the court less than 30 years in prison after a agreeing to cap the sentence at 30 night of domestic violence that left years plus probation and additional his girlfriend dead in the couple’s conditions to be set by sentence. home. Judge Ben Esch set the sentencing Last Oct. 7, police found the body for Nov. 1. of Marie Pushruk, 21, on the floor of Oquilluk, dressed in a gold prison the house with Oquilluk, also 21, uniform, buried his head in his hands lying beside it. A bloody steak knife and appeared overcome with emo- was stabbed into the floor nearby. tion as he squeezed out the word The woman appeared to have been “guilty” after a long hesitation. strangled. “I think this is very hard for him,” The state charged Oquilluk on Oquilluk’s attorney, Angela M. Murder One—with intent to cause Green told the court. death, according to court documents. After the proceedings, Brenda Oquilluk pleaded innocent. In a plea Pushruk, Marie Pushruk’s mom, and deal, Oquilluk pleaded guilty Mon- other family members, including day afternoon to an amended charge continued on page 4 Failed septic causes water restrictions at AMCC By Diana Haecker the facility fixed and up and running Prisoners at the Anvil Mountain again. Correctional Center had to contend AMCC superintendant Michael with rationed water use for three Dunham said that the reason for days last week as AMCC officials what a prisoner called “in- scrambled to get the septic system of humane conditions” was a septic tank full of sludge that did not sepa- rate the liquids from the solids any- On the Web: more and pushed the entire waste out www.nomenugget.net to the leech field that is only in- tended to receive liquids. Dunham E-mail: said that guards noticed ponding in [email protected] the leech field during a time when Nome experienced no rain. The problem was traced back to the sep- tic tank and at first, Nome Joint Util- Photo by Diana Haecker ities and the local septic pump DEXTER CHALLENGE— Benjamin Head and his wife Amanda near the finish line of last Saturday’s contractor “Suck’n Shine” tried to Wyatt Earp Dexter Challenge bike, run and walk race. Benjamin Head won the bike division and then jogged up Dexter pass to meet Amanda and escort her to the finish line. See story and photos on page 9. continued on page 5 2 THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012 OPINION THE NOME NUGGET row. Our request for a hearing in stituents. It is my hope that the leg- Nome was denied. The initiative islature can enter the next legislative ULU News would reestablish a coastal manage- session with a solid plan to address A Look at the Present By Senator ment program in Alaska. Please this resource that is so important and Donnie Olson, District T familiarize yourself with this issue closely tied to the families and and talk to your families, friends, communities that I represent in the SB 130 Passage Celebration neighbors and local elected offi- Senate. On June 14, 2012, the Alaska Native cials. More information can be Heritage Center hosted a celebration found at the Division of Elections’ Thank you for taking the time to for the passage of SB 130: an Act website: http://www.elections.alaska read my Ulu Newsletter. I wish Establishing an Alaska Native Lan- .gov/ei_primary_bm.php everyone a pleasant summer. guage Preservation and Advisory Take care, Council. Special guests of this cele- Disappearing King Salmon Senator Donald Olson bration included Alaska’s Lieutenant As you know, the governor re- Governor Mead Treadwell, the pri- quested the federal government de- mary sponsors of the bill State Sen- clare this summer’s low king salmon ator Donald Olson and State returns a disaster. If Washington, Representative Alan Dick, former D.C. does issue a disaster declara- State Senator Georgianna Lincoln, tion this would provide much needed and many other individuals and or- financial aid to our struggling vil- ganizations who worked hard to sup- lages. I am hopeful that this will Letter port the successful passage of this happen. My office is monitoring landmark Alaska Native Legislation. this, and if you have any questions Dear Editor, Photo by Laura Samuelson please don’t hesitate to contact us. GOLOVIN BAY people better DUELING LAPTOPS – Cousins Charlie Burrow and Rodger Hughes Ballot Measure 2 – Vote Au- Also, the governor has appointed wake up. The future is NOW— de- were in Nome last week tracing their family history at the Carrie M. gust 28, 2012 a team to take a comprehensive look velop the infrastructure NOW— for McLain Memorial Museum. They are cousins of Lucy and John Poling. Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell at why the king salmon runs have transportation roads, etc. Golovin Their grandfather, Albert Spaeth, spent the winter of 1900 in a tent on held 10 hearings across the state on been so dismal. This team is di- Bay could have a deepwater port to Nome’s beach. Their mothers returned to Nome in the early 1930s as Ballot Measure 2, the initiative to rected to issue a report and make rival ANY in the state and USA. teachers and met their husbands here. Charlie’s parents lived in Can- recreate the ACMP. I was grateful recommendations this fall. I look Start NOW. If YOU CAN’T DO dle working for ACS while Rodger’s dad, Howard Hughes, was Nome’s that two of those hearings were held forward to reviewing this report and IT, find someone who can. Get it dentist in the 1930s. Left to right, trading stories are Anne Peterson in our district - Kotzebue and Bar- making it available to my con- STARTED. Inter-organizational Whipple, Charlie Burrow, Augie Krutzsch and Rodger Hughes. Fritz, squabbling gets NOWHERE FAST. lead dog of the 1925 Serum Run listens in. PS: CARL EMMONS, you are RIGHT. It should be REQUIRED READING for village leaders— Letters to the editor must be signed and regarding comments to Nome City Council on July 26, 2012.