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1979 |
GCI incorporates in Alaska. It is founded by two Alaska entrepreneurs, Bob Walp and Ron Duncan. |
| 1982 |
GCI constructs facilities and carries its first long distance call on Thanksgiving Day. |
| 1984 |
GCI files anti-trust lawsuit against Alascom for conspiracy to monopolize the Alaska market. |
| 1987 |
GCI becomes a publicly traded company (Nasdaq: GNCMA). Prior to this, GCI was a wholly-owned subsidiary of WestMarc Communications, Inc, formerly Western Tele-Communications, Inc. In January, WSMC distributes all outstanding shares of GCI to its stockholders. |
| 1988 |
GCI settles litigation and receives payment of $27.5 million. |
| 1991 |
GCI purchases capacity on the North Pacific Cable, the only fiber optic cable linking Alaska with the contiguous United States and foreign countries. |
| 1992 |
GCI awarded multi-year, exclusive outsource contract with BP Exploration, Alaska to assume management responsibilities for all telecommunication and computer networking assets. Similar contracts are later obtained with National Bank of Alaska and First National Bank of Anchorage. |
| 1993 |
GCI forms strategic alliance with MCI Communications. This alliance allows the company to access MCI's global network and services in exchange for terminating northbound traffic. |
| 1995 |
GCI is awarded a license to provide personal communication services (PCS) for the entire state. The license was purchased for $1.7 million in a FCC auction. |
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GCI obtains permission from the Alaska Public Utilities Commission and the FCC to demonstrate its advanced satellite communication technology in rural Alaska. Prior to this, competitive services were not permitted. GCI uses DAMA technology, developed through a partnership with Scientific Atlanta, to significantly reduce satellite delay while improving quality. In 1996, GCI constructs earth stations in 56 rural locations. |
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GCI enters into a lease/purchases transaction with Hughes communication to secure sufficient C-band and Ku-band satellite coverage for the entire state. |
| 1996 |
Federal Telecommunication Act passes mandating competition among all sectors of the telecommunication industry. |
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GCI purchases three leading cable television companies in the state for $286 million. This transaction provides the company with a wired network passing 76 percent of the state's households. It allows GCI to add video to its suite of services, as well as, access to a broadband distribution network for its planned delivery of integrated voice, video and data services. |
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GCI completes phase one of its Metropolitan Area Network in Anchorage. This fiber optic ring provides high-speed data connectivity and serves as the distribution backbone for GCI's future local telephone service. |
| 1997 |
GCI named to the Standard & Poor's SmallCap 600 Index--a first for any Alaska company. |
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GCI completes a global financing plan raising a total of $556 million to be used for construction of facilities throughout alaska. |
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GCI completes phase one of its Metropolitan Area Network in Fairbanks. |
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GCI initiates facilities-based local telephone service in Anchorage. |
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1998 |
GCI begins construction of Alaska United Fiber Optic Cable System linking Alaska's major population centers with the Lower 48 states. |
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GCI launches cable modem Internet access in Anchorage, with services in Juneau and Fairbanks commencing in 1999. |
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GCI completes $8 million cable capital improvement project to provide Anchorage and surrounding communities with digital cable. |
| 1999 |
GCI takes delivery of its new $125 million fiber optic cable system. The 2,331-mile cable connects Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau to Seattle and brings significant telecommunication capacity to Alaska's growing Internet, video, data and data markets. |
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GCI rolls out free unlimited Internet access with long-distance. Within six months, GCI becomes the state's largest Internet service provider. Depending on location, services delivered are: dial-up, cable modem, DSL, dedicated Internet access service and distance education services. |
| 2000 |
GCI acquires capacity on the Galaxy Xr satellite. This capacity will meet GCI's needs to for the next 12 years. |
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GCI launches digital cable TV in the Fairbanks market. |
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The Regulatory Commission of Alaska approves GCI's interconnection agreement to provide local telephone service in Fairbanks and Juneau. Service is expected to commence in late 2001. |
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GCI local telephone market share in Anchorage grows to 30 percent. GCI estimates that consumers saved more than $18 million in three years as a result of facilities-based competition. |
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After two years of service, 25 percent of retail Internet customers have cable modems. GCI estimates that Alaskans sign up for the high-speed service at three times the national average. |
| 2001 |
GCI acquires the 800-mile fiber optic cable that follows the TransAlaska pipeline. GCI fiber optic facilities now extends from the major energy producing region of Alaska to lower 48 states. |
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GCI extends its highly successful School Access service to 22 rural schools located in Arizona and New Mexico. |
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GCI initiates facilities-based local telephone competition in Fairbanks. |
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GCI announces it will install retail high-speed Internet access in all Alaska communities with GCI facilities. Cable modem service in all locations with cable TV plant by 2002; wireless Internet access in 140 villages by 2004. |
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GCI acquires Rogers Cable, Inc., a cable TV provider serving the Palmer/Wasilla communities. More than 7,000 subscribers with 10,000 homes passed comes with the deal. |
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GCI announces it will begin interconnection proceedings to launch local telephone service in 10 Alaska communities located in Interior and the Kenai Peninsula. |
| 2002 |
GCI initiates facilities-based local telephone competition in Juneau. |
