Closing the Digital Divide

GCI supports students in Unalaska through telecommunication partnership with OptimERA

GCI collaborates with OptimERA, Inc., aiming to keep Alaskans connected and help schools provide virtual lessons

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – To support community members and students in Alaska working from home and those home due to closures in response to COVID-19, GCI announced a collaboration with OptimERA, Inc. that will support the expanding need for connectivity at home.

During this time of uncertainty for many, Alaska’s telecommunication industry is coming together to develop innovative solutions to ensure Alaska students have access to online learning tools.

“Alaskans are dealing with big changes and GCI is committed to doing what we can to serve Alaskans across the state, especially students and teachers,” said GCI Vice President Dan Boyette. “During this time of crisis, we are proud to work with the other telecommunications providers in Alaska that, through this partnership, will be able to provide options to their customers to hopefully make life a little easier during this stressful time.”

OptimERA has launched The Educational Data Plan to reduce the cost of internet for education customers in Unalaska and Akutan. The plan provides free data packages to students and educators. By partnering with GCI, OptimERA can leverage LTE spectrum to reach unserved students and educators.

To learn more about these specific offers and to upgrade your service, customers should reach out directly to OptimERA. This announcement comes after GCI announced new offers for free internet upgrades for all its customers statewide.

“We are happy to be able to provide our customers and our community these offers and services during this time,” said Emmett Fitch, CEO of OptimERA, Inc.

“Education is so important to our youth and thanks to partners like GCI we are able to help make sure students and teachers in Unalaska have access to the data that they need right now.”

“Offering free internet upgrades to our customers and free internet for new customers where available is one way we can support Alaskans. Doing the same by working together with our partners in Unalaska, we can help keep all Alaskans connected, even those who are not GCI customers, and to us that’s really what it means to be Alaska born and raised,” said Boyette.

GCI is committed to keeping employees, customers and families safe and connected during the COVID-19 situation. Learn more about GCI’s response at https://www.gci.com/covid-19.

About GCI

GCI provides data, mobile, video, voice and managed services to consumer and business customers throughout Alaska and nationwide. Headquartered in Alaska, GCI has delivered services for 40 years to some of the most remote communities and in some of the most challenging conditions in North America. Learn more about GCI at www.gci.com . GCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of GCI Liberty, Inc. (Nasdaq: GLIBA, GLIBP). Learn more about GCI Liberty at www.gciliberty.com .