City Gives Thanks for Support During Internet Outage

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Category: News

Created on Thursday, 19 September 2024 15:00

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By Sentinel Staff
The city issued a press release Tuesday thanking staff and the community for support during the internet outage,  August 29-September 14.
Most of Sitka lost internet service when the GCI fiberoptic cable broke in Salisbury Sound. Repairs were completed by Saturday, and services fully restored earlier this week after more than two weeks without reliable cell phone, text message and landline service, and internet service.
The city’s news release follows.

Grant Turner, City of Sitka IT director, checks connections to the modem on a new temporary Starlink system at the Sitka Public Library during the recent fiberoptic cable outage. (Photo provided by Melissa Wileman)

The City and Borough of Sitka extends heartfelt thanks to all of our partners, staff, and community members who came together during the recent internet outage. This challenging time demonstrated the power of collaboration and preparedness, and we are relieved and proud to have been in a strong position to both offer and receive support when it mattered most.
A special acknowledgment goes to Tidal Network, Sitka Dock Company, and Royal Caribbean Group for their critical assistance in keeping our community connected. Their swift actions made a significant difference in reducing the impact of the outage on residents, businesses, and visitors.
The dedication and tireless efforts of CBS staff, who worked to ensure seamless coordination and response during the outage, were instrumental in minimizing the impact on the community. Our IT, Public Works, emergency response, and administrative teams came together to address immediate needs and manage communication with local leaders, businesses, residents, and visitors. Their commitment to the community exemplifies the resilience and strength of our workforce.
John Leach, Municipal Administrator, expressed his appreciation: “Our city staff played a crucial role in making everything come together. Their hard work behind the scenes ensured that our partners could deploy the necessary resources to keep Sitka connected. I am incredibly proud of their efforts.”
We are particularly grateful to Tidal Network, the Tlingit and Haida Broadband Department for their exceptional support in providing vital equipment solutions. Their systems enabled CBS to establish a local hotspot at the Sitka Public Library and offer internet café hours at the Swan Lake Senior Center, providing essential connectivity for our community during the outage.
Royal Caribbean Group, in collaboration with the Sitka Dock Company, installed terminals across Sitka, providing free satellite-based internet service to residents, businesses, and visitors while repairs were made to the damaged fiber optic cable. These terminals will remain a part of Sitka’s infrastructure, ensuring reliable high-speed internet access continues well into the future. This lasting connectivity will serve as a safeguard and help meet the growing internet demands during peak tourism seasons, benefiting both locals and visitors alike.
“These partnerships, along with the hard work of everyone involved, highlight the strength of the Sitka community in finding solutions during times of need,” Leach said.
Gunalchéesh! Háw’aa!

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