Unalaska, AK – The Alaska State Library is moving ahead with a new plan to expand broadband access to rural communities, and Unalaska stands to benefit.

This month, the Alaska State Library debuted the OWL program, or "Online With Libraries." The project will cost $8.2 million over three years, and is expected to provide speedier Internet to 104 libraries across the state. To receive OWL support, library bandwidth must be slower than 1.5 megabytes per second. In addition to ensuring that libraries are able to achieve T1 speeds with their internet connection, OWL will also provide some communities with technical support and training, as well as videoconferencing and computer equipment.

Librarian Dan Masoni says that the Unalaska Public Library is expected to receive approximately $70,000 in support, which will include videoconferencing materials.

The project is paid for through a combination of federal, state, and non-profit monies. OWL has received $5.4 million in stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Rasmuson Foundation, and the Alaska State Library also contributed to the funding of the project.