AKPIRG Updates May 2023
ACTION ALERT: Oppose the Termination of the Alaska Universal Service Fund
The Alaska Universal Service Fund (AUSF) subsidizes telephone carriers to build infrastructure and lower the cost of telephone bills in rural Alaska by ❗double or triple the cost❗
The AUSF is set to end on June 1, 2023, at the direction of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA). This has been known since 2019, and although all of the telephone carriers came up with a consensus proposal, the RCA no longer has the authority to enact it. The RCA is now also proposing to remove the statutes that mention the AUSF, removing any responsibility to help rural consumers have reasonable telephone costs and accessible telephone & internet.
Please take 2 minutes to fill out the form to send your comment, and share within your community. ALL Alaskans deserve equitable access to telecommunications services, no matter their location or income.
Send a comment to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to oppose the termination of the Alaska Universal Service Fund BY MAY 5:
Introducing: the Alaska Native Language Translation Protocols
The AKPIRG Language Access Team is excited to share the Alaska Native Language Translation Protocols!
These are made to support all Alaska Native language work and translation projects. The language access team hopes that these protocols can be used around the state in many ways to uplift and hold space in the best way for all languages.
Please feel free to visit akpirg.org/language-access to learn more about the AKPIRG language access team and some of our projects.
Small Dollar Lending Reform
Many Alaskans living paycheck to paycheck turn to payday loans to fill a gap between their income and basic living expenses. However, the high cost of these short-term loans leaves many families trapped in a cycle of chronic debt and poverty.
House Bill 145, sponsored by Representative Stanley Wright, would protect Alaskans from high-interest loans by capping interest rates for small dollar loans at 36%.
Join us in urging lawmakers to support this common sense legislation:
AKPIRG in the Capitol!
Last month, AKPIRG staff flew to Juneau to meet with 19 state legislators about a number of issues that affect everyday Alaskans. In almost every area of our work, AKPIRG interacts with legislation and policy makers, so we were excited to have the opportunity to meet with legislators and staffers in person in the very place where important policy decisions are made.
While we focused on issues like payday lending reform, equitable and affordable broadband access, and fair and accessible elections, we were also able to offer AKPIRG as a reliable resource for lawmakers and their staff as they navigate a wide variety of public interest issues.
Many thanks to Brooke Ivy of the Alaska Children's Trust for supporting our payday lending reform work, and to all of the legislators and their staff who took the time to meet with us. It was an honor, and we hope to be back soon.
Learn more about our policy work:
No Secrets, No Spills: Info Session on May 11
Have you heard about an upcoming case in the Alaska Supreme Court between the City of Valdez and the Regulatory Commission of Alaska? This case, which will be heard on June 28th, pertains to the recent transfer of assets between BP and Hilcorp. This deal was done on secret record, and approved by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.
AKPIRG is supporting the City of Valdez in their appeal of this decision. The most critical thing we can do right now is to show up to the court hearing in downtown Anchorage on June 28th at 11am and show the Supreme Court judges that Alaskans care about this issue and are watching.
Join us on May 11 at the Loussac Library in Anchorage to learn more about the case, Hilcorp's lack of transparency, what's at stake, and how to take action.
For more information, contact info@akpirg.org.
Get Involved in the Fight for Digital Equity 📡
The 2023 Indigenous Connectivity Summit (ICS) will be held May 22-24 in Anchorage, Alaska! This event will be hosted by the Indigenous Connectivity Institute and supported by our very own Broadband Specialist, Broadband Brittany!
"Indigenous communities across North America live without the reliable, affordable internet they need in today’s digital world. For seven years, a growing movement of connectivity champions has worked though the Indigenous Connectivity Summit (ICS) to change this.
This community-led forum is now the primary convening for Indigenous leadership and our allies working across the United States and Canada to build a digital future on our own terms."
Learn more/register for this *FREE* event:
Alaska’s Digital Equity plan now has a website: Broadband for Alaskans #ConnectAK! AKPIRG Broadband Specialist Brittany Woods-Orrison is part of the project and will be traveling throughout the state to do listening sessions and will be part of the process in writing the final plan. Check out the website to see when there will be listening sessions in your region and to see who's on the team.
AKPIRG Swag
We have merch! Proceeds from each T-shirt and sweatshirt go to funding the work we are doing for a better future for Alaska. It's the coziest way to support AKPIRG! Check out all the colors below.
