State seeks public comment on fiber optic cable from Juneau to Cordova

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources is accepting public comments through June 8 on a proposed 30-year easement for a subsea fiber optic cable connecting Juneau to five Southeast Alaska communities.

Cordova Telecom Cooperative applied for the easement to install the cable along state-owned tide and submerged lands. The route would run from Juneau through Gustavus, Hoonah, Pelican, and Yakutat before ending in Cordova. The project aims to bring high-speed broadband to rural and underserved communities in the region.

The easement would cover roughly 1,920 acres of seafloor along Saginaw Channel, Lynn Canal, Icy Strait, Cross Sound, Yakutat Bay, and Orca Inlet. State regulations require a 30-foot width to provide adequate space for the cable infrastructure and maintenance activities. The total cable length would span approximately 2,789,000 feet.

The Division of Mining, Land and Water will review all comments before deciding whether to issue the easement. The agency may add conditions or modify the project during the review process.

Written comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on June 8. Submit comments by email to [email protected] or mail them to Southeast Regional Land Office, PO Box 111020, Juneau, Alaska 99811. The full application packet is available for review by contacting Muriel Walatka at 907-465-3937.