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Billionaire asks to take controlling interest of GCI

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Billionaire asks to take controlling interest of GCI


The GCI store at Northern Lights Boulevard and C Street. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Some Alaskans are pushing back against a request by a billionaire to take a controlling interest in GCI Liberty, the state’s dominant telecommunications provider.

GCI Liberty and John Malone, a Colorado billionaire and one of the largest private landowners in the U.S., are also asking the Regulatory Commission of Alaska for a waiver to keep secret financial statements associated with the proposal. They argue in part that public disclosure could cause financial harm.

The Alaska Beacon first reported on the requests on Monday.

More than 40 individuals have commented against the proposal and the requests for secrecy in a comment period that ends at 5 p.m. Tuesday before the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. The majority of the comments were uniquely written, not form letters.

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Many said they oppose giving one person, particularly a non-Alaskan, control of a company that plays a vital role statewide, providing services in more than 200 Alaska communities.

Malone filed his request with the agency early this month.

The chair of GCI Liberty, Malone holds 53.5% of the aggregate voting power at GCI Liberty, the agency says.

But his voting power is restricted to 49.32%, based on agreements entered into by entities related to him, the agency says.

“GCI Liberty and Dr. Malone seek approval for Dr. Malone to increase his voting power to above 50% of the aggregate voting power of GCI Liberty, a level that would constitute control of GCI Liberty and its certificated subsidiary GCICC (GCI Communication Corp.),” the state regulatory agency said.

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GCI Liberty recently reported revenue for the first six months of this year at $527 million.

Net earnings during the period, after expenses, were $62 million, according to financial reports on its website. The company came close to doubling its net earnings from the same period in the prior year.

In a statement from spokesperson Josh Edge, GCI said it “is deeply committed to Alaska and to serving Alaskans. Our headquarters and senior leadership team are all based in Alaska, and we continue making decisions locally to serve communities across the state. While our parent company, GCI Liberty, is involved in this regulatory filing, we remain focused on connecting Alaskans and investing in the state’s future, just as we’ve done for more than 45 years.”

In written comments to the agency, critics of Malone’s request and the desire for secrecy assert that Malone seeks increased control to boost profits, which would come at the expense of GCI customers in the form of higher bills and reduced services.

“Internet and phone services are necessary public services, often life saving,” wrote Christine Niemi, of Douglas. “These services should not be controlled by those whose goal is for profit. The interest of the public must be the primary concern.”

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“I believe it is imperative that this process remain transparent and accountable to the public,” Jo Ann Gruber wrote.

“… The request to keep financial documents confidential undermines the principles of open governance and public oversight,” Gruber added. “These documents are critical for understanding the implications of the proposed takeover, including potential impacts on service quality, pricing, rural access, and long-term investment in Alaska’s communications infrastructure. Allowing secrecy in this context sets a dangerous precedent and erodes public trust.”

The state agency said it “will rule on the petition for confidential treatment and motion for waiver” following the comment period. At that time, it will also determine if the application from Malone is complete.

GCI, launched in Alaska in 1979, has undergone major changes in recent years. It was sold to Liberty Broadband of Colorado in 2017, upsetting some customers who wanted the ownership to remain local. Among other developments, it has outsourced its call center to the Philippines, affecting dozens of Alaska jobs, and ended its cable TV platform in favor of an internet streaming service.





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Alaska

Lavrov Challenges Rubio: Kremlin Says Trump-Putin Reached Deal as Moscow Questions Washington’s Neutrality

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Lavrov Challenges Rubio: Kremlin Says Trump-Putin Reached Deal as Moscow Questions Washington’s Neutrality


The Kremlin has pushed back against US claims that no agreement was reached between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin during the August 2025 Anchorage summit in Alaska.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Washington presented proposals to settle the war in Ukraine during the talks and that Moscow accepted them.

Lavrov was responding to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has publicly rejected Russian claims that Washington and Moscow reached an agreement on Ukraine during the Alaska summit, saying no deal was ever finalized.

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As reported by DRM News, Rubio said the summit produced only a proposal, not a binding agreement.

He added that the US remains ready to play a constructive role in bringing the parties together and helping end the war, but stressed that while proposals were discussed in Alaska, “there was no agreement.”

Lavrov struck back by calling the response “not very elegant.”

“When my colleague says that in Alaska there were only proposals and no agreement, I wonder what we mean by agreement,” Lavrov said.

“If one side, in this case the US, put proposals on the table, and the other side expressed agreement, then saying there was no agreement is somehow not very elegant,” he added.

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According to Lavrov, White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff visited Moscow days before the summit and delivered the same US settlement plan.

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“Already in Anchorage, when the two presidents sat down for talks, Putin began listing the American proposals point by point. After each point, in the presence of Trump and Rubio, he asked Witkoff whether he had correctly described the ideas brought to Moscow. Witkoff answered affirmatively to each question,” Lavrov said.

He called for clarification from Washington, adding that recent US statements about playing a constructive role in ending the war sounded like an attempt to position itself as a mediator.

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Previous claims

In early June, Lavrov claimed Russia had accepted what he described as US proposals presented at the Alaska summit.

Lavrov alleged that Washington initially acted as a mediator but later stepped back from the process after failing to pressure Ukraine to accept the proposed terms.

This week, he also suggested that the Alaska summit may have been used to “buy time” for Ukraine to rearm itself, further arguing that Russia no longer views the West as a credible broker amid sanctions pressure.

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov also said Moscow remained committed to implementing the understandings reached in Alaska, while accusing Washington of “apparently [failing] to complete its part of the process.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov argued that Washington cannot be considered fully neutral in the war because of its military support for Ukraine.

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“If we’re talking about absolute neutrality, then, of course, the term is probably inapplicable, because the United States supplies the majority of weapons to Ukraine and provides other forms of assistance,” Peskov said.

At the same time, he said Moscow highly values Washington’s willingness to help resolve the war, as well as its influence over European allies and Kyiv.

Peskov also dismissed remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron, who recently said at the G7 Summit that Washington had abandoned neutrality and was now openly backing Ukraine’s territorial integrity, continued aid, and sanctions against Russia.

“Regarding President Macron’s statements, it is difficult to judge. I don’t think President Macron can in any way claim to be Washington’s lawyer or press secretary,” Peskov added.



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Alaska, Hawaiian Airlines expand free Wi-Fi on flights

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Alaska, Hawaiian Airlines expand free Wi-Fi on flights


HONOLULU (KHON2) — Free Wi-Fi is available on more Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines planes.

The company said that 150 aircraft are now equipped with Starlink.

“For years, T-Mobile has played a key role in keeping our guests connected, and we’re proud to now offer Starlink, the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky, to Atmos members for free, made possible through our work with T-Mobile,” said Shane Jones, Senior Vice President of Fleet, Products and Guest Experience. “We’ve seen an overwhelmingly positive response from our guests, and we couldn’t have done it without T-Mobile as we continue to raise the bar for the experience across Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.”

Passengers must now be Atmos Rewards members to take advantage of the free service. The company said a new onboarding portal started in June, with the experience to become standard by mid-July.

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Existing Atmos Rewards members will connect automatically, and new guests can sign up in just a few steps.

“Our relationship with Alaska Airlines has helped redefine what travelers can expect from inflight connectivity, and today’s milestone is another important step forward, said Mike Belcher, Head of Partnerships and Business Development at T-Mobile. “Bringing complimentary inflight Wi-Fi to more travelers across both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines makes it easier to stay connected throughout their journey. The new, streamlined experience for accessing Wi-Fi reflects our shared commitment to delivering a better, more seamless travel experience.”

The airline expects to finish installing Starlink across its remaining mainline fleet by 2027.



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Pilot’s quick thinking averts disaster in Alaska emergency landing

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Pilot’s quick thinking averts disaster in Alaska emergency landing


A small plane made an emergency landing in Alaska after a loud noise was heard about 20 minutes into the flight, according to one of the nine passengers on board. The pilot reported engine trouble and began searching for a place to land. Helicopters later rescued everyone. Passengers praised the pilot’s experience and quick thinking, crediting him with saving their lives. The FAA and NTSB are investigating.



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