ProPublica seeks resident data to assess Alaska internet service and government spending
The news organisation is examining how billions in public funding have impacted service delivery, noting that Alaskans pay the highest prices for the slowest speeds in the United States.
ProPublica has launched an investigation into the state of internet service provision in Alaska, asserting that residents face the highest prices and slowest speeds in the United States. The news organisation is soliciting public participation via a survey to assess how billions of dollars in government funding have influenced service delivery in local communities.
The inquiry, led by reporter Kyle Hopkins, aims to evaluate the efficacy of public spending on infrastructure. ProPublica states that the government has spent billions of dollars of public money to try to fix the problem, and the outlet wants to know how it is really going in communities across the state.
Residents are invited to complete an online survey detailing their costs and experiences with internet service. The survey asks participants to share how much it costs them to get online and what they think of the service quality. ProPublica has stated it will contact participants before publishing any part of their story, emphasising privacy protections.
For individuals unable to access the internet, direct contact channels have been established. Hopkins has provided a phone number, 907-854-8540, available via phone or WhatsApp for those who wish to share their experiences. The organisation noted that more options for participation will be added soon.
The investigation focuses on the disparity between high costs and low service quality in Alaska compared to the rest of the US. While specific metrics for speed and price are not detailed in the initial announcement, ProPublica presents the cost-speed disparity as a central premise of the inquiry. The outlet is currently gathering community-level data to determine the impact of federal investment on local connectivity.
