ATS receives NTIA grant award notification for 59 member communities. Read more here.

About ATS

About the Alaska Tribal Spectrum

ATS is a Tribal member nonprofit that in July 2020 had a primary mission to ensure that the FCC-offered 2.5 GHz spectrum was reserved for Tribal benefit before the FCC application window closed. In this mission, ATS was highly successful and, in just 2 months, ATS rallied with the support of 85 Tribal members to reserve spectrum over a large area of Alaska. This was possible because ATS understood the unique communication challenges for rural Alaskan Tribes and created a quick, simple way for Tribes to participate as a consortium and apply collectively instead of 85 individual efforts.

In 2022, Alaska Tribal Spectrum was awarded the largest 2.5GHz spectrum area in the US for the benefit of its now over 100 members.

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Become a member of ATS

The mission of ATS is to:

  1. Leverage the FCC-awarded Tribal 2.5GHz spectrum to obtain last mile wireless infrastructure funding to create and expand a statewide Alaska Tribal Network (ATN) that will deliver sustainable, affordable “Broadband For All” everywhere in the State of Alaska.
  2. Support efforts to deliver additional middle mile capacity to rural Alaska.

Per its mission, ATS invited every Tribe in Alaska to join us in an NTIA application to bring value to their spectrum. We are now pending award.

 In Summary

What we are not

  • We are not asking any Tribe to give up any rights for their spectrum license or anything else.
  • We do not charge any fees or dues of any kind to be a member or receive benefits.
  • We are not dictating what any Tribe should do. We offer choices and many benefits. Everything is the Tribe’s decision to choose to participate or not.
  • We are not an ISP. ATS is not a competitor to existing telecommunication service providers.
  • We are not a Co-op. We are not creating a utility.

What we are

  • We are a Tribal member nonprofit. ATS manages the network policies that govern the 2.5 GHz spectrum usage for its Tribal members to maximize benefits for those members through our Tribally managed Policy Board.
  • We are a significant collective Tribal voice for acquiring funding to make broadband affordable everywhere in Alaska.
  • We have a twofold mission:
    1. Leverage the FCC awarded Tribal 2.5GHz spectrum to obtain last mile wireless infrastructure funding to create and expand a statewide Alaska Tribal Network (ATN) that will connect to any available middle mile to deliver sustainable, affordable “Broadband For All” everywhere in the State of Alaska.
    2. Support efforts to deliver additional middle mile capacity to rural Alaska.
  • ATS will partner with a network provider to develop the  Alaska Tribal Network (ATN) which will provide significant benefits to our member communities. The ATN will connect to any existing microwave or fiber middle mile connections available in your community. If neither is available, advanced LEO and GEO satellite will be used instead.
  • We are a way to maximize the value of your spectrum. We are inviting all Tribes that own spectrum to consider having their spectrum managed on the ATN by joining ATS and benefitting in many ways. Your spectrum is always owned by your Tribe. Member tribes forfeit nothing. 
  • We are an easy way for your community to also receive large broadband grant funding. For example, ATS recently submitted an application to the NTIA to build ATN last mile infrastructure in a large number of member communities to enable affordable broadband and cell phone service.
  • We are an enabler of future mobility for your village. The ATN design leverages the 2.5 GHz spectrum to also provide LTE phone service throughout the community. Rather than just connect to buildings, the ATN connects people. Service follows you wherever you go.
  • We offer ways for existing or new telecommunication service providers to benefit and flourish on the ATN.

Benefits of the ATN design for your community

Benefits include Tribal revenue, better equipment pricing, and more for your community.

Benefits of being a member of ATS

Benefits include Tribal revenue, ATN design advantages, chances for additional revenue, and more.

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